Our Correspondent
KOHIMA, JULY 19
Nagaland Home Minister, Y Patton on Sunday expressed “serious concerns on the fallout of the Assam Rifles’ killing of two NSCN (K) cadres on July 15 at Avangkhu under Meluri Sub-Division that two innocent minors lost their precious lives while another lady received injuries in the firing at Phor Village on July 16 night.”
A press release from the Home Minister termed the incident as unfortunate “when the members of the Parliamentary Working Committee (PWC) of Nagaland had been engaged in series of meetings with Prime Minister, Home Minister, Center’s Interlocutor to Naga talks and other important Union Officials to pressurize them to expedite the peace process for an early settlement to the Naga political issue and also urging them for the resumption of the ceasefire with the NSCN (K).”
He said that such incidents would only hinder the process. “The members of the Parliamentary Working Committee (PWC) of Nagaland also urged the central leaders to revoke the recently extended DAA in the entire state of Nagaland for another one year as such Act would only negate the process and vitiate the atmosphere being built for the political dialogues between the government of India and the Naga underground leaders.
“I appeal to the security forces to be very sensitive to the Naga issues when they are discharging their duties keeping in mind the government of Nagaland, its people and other agencies’ working to bring permanent peace in the land,” the statement read.
Patton also appealed the “NSCN (K) to listen to the voice of the people for their resumption of ceasefire with the government of India, because with ceasefire, process for settlement to the long drawn out Naga political issue is only possible.”
