NSCN-K (Khango) held accountable for CFGR violation: CFMG/CFSB chairperson

August 4, 2024 8 Views No Comment

CF is not a licence for immunity’

Morung Express news
Kohima | August 4

The NSCN-K (Khango) has been held accountable to violations of ‘ceasefire ground rules (CFGR),’ according to the Chairperson of the Ceasefire Monitoring Group/Ceasefire Supervisory Board (CFMG/CFSB), Lt Gen (Retired) Amarjeet Singh Bedi.

The NSCN-K (Khango), currently in ceasefire with the Government of India, recently made the headlines for issuing a death threat to a government contractor, an incident that had the Angami Youth Organisation embargoing the said Naga Political Group (NPG) in Angami territory.

“In the present imbroglio involving NSCN-K (Khango), though no official complaint has been received by the CFMG office, suo moto cognizance of the media reports on the subject has been taken. The issue has been continuously monitored by this office ever since it came out in media and the group has been held accountable to violations of Ceasefire Ground Rules which they have committed to adhere,” Bedi told a press conference, on August3, at the CFMG office, Kohima.

He informed that the Nagaland Police has registered a suo moto FIR in connection to the alleged death threat. “Anyone found guilty will be dealt with as per the provisions of law,” he added.

The press conference was preceded by a meeting of the CFMG/CFSB, with representatives from the state government, security agencies and representatives from the NSCN-K (Khango).

At the meeting the NSCN-K (Khango) representatives were reportedly questioned. According to Bedi, they “responded in written that their group functions purely on voluntary contributions and their statement to apprise Kezhaleo Rülho, proprietor of M/S KKB Rülho firm of certain provisions of their Government Yezhabo have been misinterpreted as Life/Capital punishment threat.” They reportedly claimed that violating the CFGR has not been their intention.

He said, “They also assured that they will adhere to all the provisions of the Ceasefire Ground Rules and will resolve this issue with the concerned parties at the earliest.” According to him, they will see to it that the NPG in question complies with the terms of the CFGR as assured.

The GoI has 5 CF agreements signed with the NSCN (IM) in 1997, GPRN/NSCN (also known as GPRN/NSCN-U) in 2012, NSCN (R) in 2015, NSCN-K (Khango) in 2019 and NSCN -K (Nikki) in 2021.

While stating that the signatories have committed to adhere to the CFGR, Bedi said that “certain support instruments” were provided to the NPGs for administrative purposes. The said support instruments include designated camps, ceasefire Identity Cards, ceasefire offices etc.

Bedi, however, asserted that these facilities are in no way meant to accord immunity to any of the NPGs or for causing inconvenience to the public.

The CFGR stipulates a set of limits, which includes, among others, refraining from extortion, forcible collection of money and supplies and intimidation of individuals including government officials. It disallows activity which would disturb the function of the state government, including economic and developmental activities.

He claimed that any issue brought to the notice of the CFMG or CFSB mechanism are promptly addressed and resolved.