Centre declares truce with NSCN(K)

KOHIMA, April 28: In a fresh peace initiative in the Northeast, the Centre today announced ceasefire with Khaplang faction of National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-K) which will come into effect immediately in Nagaland, reports PTI. "It has been jointly agreed between the Government of India and NSCN(K) to announce a formal ceasefire declaration for a period of one year with effect from April 28, a Union government press release quoting Home Minister L K Advani said. Announcing that the text of "ceasefire ground rules" have been agreed upon between the Centre and NSCN(K), he expressed the hope that the ceasefire would enlarge the area of peace in Nagaland. This would also meet the long standing demands of the people of Nagaland for entering into ceasefire with this group. Advani appealed to all the militant groups in the Northeast to shun the path of violence and to come forward for talks to sort out any issue that may be there between them and the Central and state governments. Congratulating the Centre for the ceasefire decision, Nagaland Chief Minister S C Jamir appealed to other groups like NNC/Federal group to come forward and follow suit in strengthening the peace initiative. "The ceasefire will come into effect immediately and will be for a period of one year," a senior Home Ministry official told PTI. The ground rules for the ceasefire have been finalised, he said. Security forces have been observing ceasefire with NSCN(IM) for the last four years.