GUWAHATI, Sept 15 - Though the Government of India is keen on bringing back NSCN(K) to the negotiation table, it would not sit idle if the outfit indulges in acts of violence. The Government also made it clear that the operations against the outfit would continue till it abjures violence and comes forward to rejoin the peace process.
Highly placed sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) told The Assam Tribune that it was the NSCN(K), which broke away from the ceasefire agreement with the Government and formed a common platform along with three other militant groups of the region having bases in Myanmar. The Government wants the outfit to rejoin the peace process for comprehensive solution to the Naga political issues, but that does not mean that the outfit would be allowed to indulge in acts of violence, sources added.
The National Investigating Agency (NIA) recently announced cash reward of Rs 7 lakh to anyone who can provide information on the whereabouts of SS Khaplang, the chairman of the NSCN(K). The investigating agency also announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for anyone providing information on the whereabouts of the army chief of the outfit. Replying to a question on whether the action of the NIA would affect the move to bring back the outfit to the negotiation table, MHA sources said that the investigating agency was given the responsibility of probing into the killing of 19 Army personnel in Chandel district of Manipur and the agency cannot sit idle. As the agency found during investigation that the NSCN(K) was involved in the attack on the Army convoy, the agency would have to do whatever needed as per the law to crack the case.
Sources also pointed out that the Government is yet to receive any positive gesture from the NSCN(K) and in fact, the outfit has been providing shelter to other militant groups of the region in its bases in Myanmar. Under the circumstances, the Government cannot stop the operations against the outfit, sources added.
Meanwhile, different civil society groups of Nagaland have appealed to the NSCN(K) to rejoin the peace talks and one group of people is scheduled to visit Myanmar soon to persuade Khaplang to come back to the negotiation table.
