Even as the Army launched strikes on the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) insurgents along the Indo-Myanmar border in Arunachal Pradesh and killed a militant, the Centre declared yesterday that the talks with the pro-talks faction of the NSCN (Isack-Muivah) is in an advanced state and the Naga Peace Agreement would soon see the light of the day.
Minister of State for Home, Kiren Rijiju said, “The Naga framework agreement has been drafted and the agreement will be finalised soon. Talks are in a very advanced stage and there is a hope of an early breakthrough.”
On August 3, 2015, the Modi government signed a framework agreement with the NSCN (IM) in New Delhi. Present on the occasion was the prime minister and top NSCN (IM) leaders headed by general-secretary T. Muivah. The other top gun of the militant group, Isac Swu, seriously ill at that time, had signed from his hospital bed. Swu has since passed away.
However, the task of framing the final agreement is a daunting one. It is a sensitive issue as it concerns other north-eastern states like Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh that have vowed not to part with an inch of their respective territory. Besides, the other formidable militant group of the NSCN (Khaplang) is not on board.
In what is being seen as a pressure tactic on the recalcitrant NSCN (K), who lost their president SS Khaplang on June 9 this year, the troops of the Assam Rifles have been carrying out aggressive operations against them in the jungles of southern Arunachal Pradesh.
Operating on specific input, about the likely presence of NSCN (K) cadres near Votnu village in Tirap district, the troops of Assam Rifles launched a swift and stealthy operation on Monday, resulting in destruction of a temporary hideout, eliminating a hardcore cadre and injuring another, who later escaped.
This operation has tightened the noose around the group and a massive search operation in underway to capture the escaped militant. One AK-47 with ammunition has been recovered from the slain terrorist. Several other militants managed to escape into the nearby dense forest due to heavy fog in the area. Combing operation is on.
This operation is a follow up to the elimination of another cadre near Kunnu village on September 1. Interestingly, the strike came a day before the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Myanmar for his first bilateral meeting.
