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10 non-Naga militant outfits operating in Dimapur |
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KOHIMA, JUN 16 (NPN): Nagaland’s commercial hub Dimapur seems to be quickly turning into a safe haven for different militant groups with at least 10 different militant outfits from outside the state reportedly operating and carrying out extortion activities. The state government has said that it was in the process of raising special armed police commandos to tackle such situation. Addressing a press conference at his office chamber Tuesday, Nagaland home minister, Imkong L Imchen revealed that 10 non-Naga insurgent groups have been confirmed to be operating in and around Dimapur and indulging in extortion and kidnapping. The lists of outside militant groups included Dima Halim Doaga (DHD-D – Nunisa group) about 60 cadres, Dima Halim Doaga (DHD-J Black Widow) about 10 cadres, Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) about 22 cadres, People Liberation Front (PLF) about 10 cadres, United People’s Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) about 10 cadres and Gurkha Liberation (GLA), Peoples United Liberation Front (PULF), All Adivasi National Liberation Army (AANLA), National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA). A glaring example of the very presence and the activities of the different insurgent groups from the region operating in Dimapur is reflected from the arrest of altogether 141 cadres belonging to different militant groups from in and around Dimapur this year alone. Those arrested included 31-UPDS cadres, 13-KRA, 10-ULFA, 8-PLA, 8-PULF, 2-KCP, 2-UDRA, 1-PREPAK, 1-GLA and 65 others.
The home minister also revealed that the militant groups from outside the state were able to operate and also indulge in extortion in connivance with the Naga underground groups. He termed the outside militant groups indulging in extortion in the state as “beyond the consumption of the people of Nagaland.” Imkong said “in no circumstances we can be extorted” and stressed the need for all to come together to eliminate the menace. Replying to a query, the home minister revealed that the state was in the process of raising special armed police commandos to tackle such a situation. He however was quick to clarify that it was following the policy decision of the union home ministry who is also funding the same. The Police Commandos will be a little over a Battalion strength and will be used as and when situation demands, he said. Imchen also said that Commandos would be extracted from all the NAP Bn. Two Company each from all the NAP Bn will undergo commando training in different part of the country and state starting from this year, he added. Treat arrested cadres as pol prisoners Nagaland home minister, Imkong L Imchen said that those arrested cadres of the NSCN factions and being systematically booked under NSA should be treated as political prisoners and not as criminal prisoners. “Those arrested cadres who are identified to be specifically belonging from the group that is presently under ceasefire with the GoI are political prisoner and not criminal prisoner,” Imchen said. Justifying his stand, the home minister pointed out that both the NSCN factions had officially signed ceasefire agreements with the government of India and also officially signed the Ceasefire Ground rules for which they cannot be treated as criminal but as political a group. He also admitted that not only the UG cadres were arrested and systematically booked under NSA but the state government had given clear directive that all extortionists should also be book under NSA apart from normal law.
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