Violence erupts in Nagaland

CALCUTTA, August 27: The Army today threatened to intervene again in Nagaland where for the past few days a series of armed clashes between rival militant factions has been spreading panic among the people. The Army had suspended operations in the state following a ceasefire agreement with the major rebel outfit two years ago and only last month, the government had announced that the agreement would be extended for another year. However, the fresh spell of violence has forced the government to consider resuming its operations in the State. On Thursday morning, an activist of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) was killed and five injured in a prolonged gunbattle between it and the NSCN (Khaplang) at Mokokchung town. At least three others, including a school student, were killed in two separate factional fights in Phek district on Sunday and Tuesday. That the State would witness a fresh spell of violence was anticipated after the NSCN (IM) cadres gunned down the NSCN (K) general secretary, Dally Mungro, at Jotsoma in Kohima district last week. Reports from Nagaland said that in all three incidents this week, the IM faction had mounted the attacks against the other groups. The IM faction was clearly taking advantage of the ceasefire between it and the Army to strike at the rival groups. It had openly argued that the ceasefire agreement was between it and the Army and it could not stop it from fighting the rival factions. A defence ministry statement, issued here today, disputed the argument and warned that the security forces would not be a "silent spectator" to the fratricidal killings which had led to the "breakdown of public order." According to the statement, 314 people have been killed and 237 abducted during clashes between militant factions over the past two years.