Centre yet to decide on Naga truce extension

NEW DELHI, July 21: The Centre has not taken any decision yet on extending the ceasefire with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (IM), due to expire on July 31, but will permit the NSCN to open a ceasefire monitoring cell for a period of one year, a Home Ministry spokesman said here today, reports UNI. 'The decision on extending the ceasefire is yet to be taken," the spokesman said. He declined to comment when asked whether allowing opening of ceasefire monitoring cell for one year indicated that it would be extended. The decision was taken at a meeting at Dimapur, between a high-level central team and the NSCN(IM) on July 18. The three-hour meeting also discussed various allegations of ceasefire violations made by the security forces against the NSCN(IM) and also by NSCN(IM) against the security forces. The meeting was attended by Assam Rifles IG (North) Maj Gen RN Kapur, Nagaland home commissioner HK Khulu, deputy secretary, Union Home Ministry, Ajai vastav, Dimapur CRPF DIG RK Sharma and other senior security force officers. PD Shenoy, additional secretary, Home Ministry, was also present. The five-member NSCN delegation was headed by Phungting Shimrang. Shenoy also held discussions with various NGOs, including representatives of Naga People's Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR), Naga Students' Federation (NSF), Naga Hoho and church leaders on the subject of ceasefire. He also reviewed the implementation of various developmental schemes in Nagaland including those sanctioned under the non-lapsable pool of resources and the Prime Minister's development package.