By Samudra Gupta Kashyap
The splintering of militant groups in Nagaland has left the government unsure how to deal with which one and struggling to curb a spurt in extortion across the state.
A ceasefire is in place with the main factions of the NSCN (National Socialist Council of Nagalim) but the Khaplang faction split vertically over a month ago, and the state government is now confused which faction is actually involved in the ceasefire with the Centre. The state has asked New Delhi to clarify whether both factions have reaffirmed their commitment to the ceasefire agreement earlier entered into.
What is also significant is that the state government has decided not to provide police escort to leaders of the NSCN factions without specific approval or a direction from the Government of India. At the moment, top leaders like Thuingaleng Muivah and Issak Chisi Swu and others of their faction (NSCN-IM) have been provided government police escort whenever they move out of their designated camps.
One section of the NSCN(K) has remained with SS Khaplang but the majority in June expelled him and appointed Gen Khole Konyak as their new chairman. Subsequent to this, both factions have claimed to be the original and in a ceasefire with the government.
A cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Saturday also discussed the law and order situation in the context of the presence of so many armed underground factions in the state. The state cabinet is understood to have observed that in addition to three NSCN factions now, the two factions of Naga National Council (NNC) too had a “considerable” number of armed cadres operating.
As neither of the two factions has any ceasefire agreement with the Centre, the state government asked New Delhi how the security forces — Central paramilitary forces and the state police — should deal with these armed cadres.
Nagaland has witnessed an upswing in extortion in recent months, with some groups even publishing telephone numbers of their “officials” responsible for collection of “taxes”, much to the embarrassment of the government. The government has now prohibited such publication of names and telephone numbers.
Numerous organisations, underground as well as non-existent ones, have been collecting “taxes” and “donations” from goods trucks and other vehicles on the state’s highways, which in turn has sent prices spiralling.
Amid attempts made to curb extortion and provide protection, especially to the trading community, the state government has ordered the closure, with immediate effect, of check gates except the inter-state gates and the Inner-Line Permit check posts .
The government has been under pressure also from an organisation called Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation, which has been demanding a separate state called “Frontier Nagaland”. With the ENPO sending memorandums to the Centre, the PMO recently asked the state government for its opinion. The Nagaland government has now recommended to the Centre the creation of an autonomous council comprising four districts of eastern Nagaland: Tuensang, Mon, Khiphire and Longleng.
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