Centre extends ceasefire pact with two Naga insurgent groups

Kohima: The Centre on Monday extended the ceasefire with two political groups in Nagaland while signing a new pact with another group.

As per the Union home ministry, a ceasefire with GPRN/NSCN and the NSCN (Reformation), which is still in operation, was extended for another year while a fresh pact was signed with NSCN/GPRN (K) headed by Khango Konyak for a year, for suspension of operations.

A statement from the ministry stated that the Centre had decided to extend the suspension of operation with GPRN/NSCN headed by MB Neaokpao Konyak and N Kitovi Zhimomi and NSCN (R) for a further period of one year with effect from April 28, 2019 till April 27, 2020.

Inked on April 15, 2019, the agreement was signed by MHA joint secretary Satyendra Garg, GPRN/NSCN supervisor Jack Jimomi while the signatories for NSCN(R) were Dr Amento Chishi, its supervisor, and Toshi Longkumer, its secretary.

A fresh ceasefire agreement was also made between NSCN/GPRN (K) and the Centre for a period of one year with effect from April 15, 2019 signed by MHA joint secretary Satyendra Garg and NSCN/GPRN (K) representatives-supervisor Newell Naga and member Michael Yeptho.

Following the abrogation of ceasefire in March 2015 and the split of NSCN (K) in 2018, NSCN/GPRN (K) led by Khango Konyak in Niovember last year gave a positive nod for the ceasefire.

As the group on December 6, 2018 declared to revoke its decision of unilaterally abrogating the ceasefire agreement with the Union government, an informal meeting was held between both parties on December 17 to discuss differences that led to the abrogation of the ceasefire in 2015.