Dimapur, March 16: Twenty-four hours after two members of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) were shot dead by suspected NSCN (I-M) activists in the heart of Kohima, the NSCN (K) today issued a warning to the coalition government led by the Nagaland People’s Front (NPF). The Khaplang faction told the coalition to shed its “anti-NSCN (K) image or face the consequences”.
The ruling coalition must condemn factional killings, senior NSCN (K) functionary Kughalu Mulatonu told The Telegraph. Reacting to the “threat”, Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio, now in New Delhi, said his government has nothing against any group and favoured the unification of all Naga underground outfits.
He told The Telegraph over telephone that he has asked the chairman of the ceasefire supervisory board, Lt. Gen. (retd) R.V. Kulkarni, to convene a meeting of the board to discuss the matter.
“The matter should be first resolved at the supervisory board level. I don’t know why they are issuing such threats. If they have any problem, they can discuss it at the supervisory board meeting,” Rio said.
The outfit has imposed curbs on the movement of 10 NPF and seven BJP legislators in areas dominated by it, including Mokokchung, Tuensang, Mon and Zunheboto districts.
Mulatonu said the ban was imposed since these legislators “brought NSCN (I-M) gunmen” into their constituencies and used their “foul services” to intimidate voters and influence the polls.