New Delhi: In a boost to the Naga peace process, the Centre on Wednesday entered into a ceasefire agreement with National Socialist Council of Nagaland (K) Niki Group for a period of one year, the Home Ministry said.
It said, “Over 200 cadres of the group along with 83 weapons joined the peace process.”
In a statement, the Ministry said the development is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “insurgency free and prosperous North East”.
“Under the guidance of Union Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah, the Government of India has entered into a Ceasefire Agreement with National Socialist Council of Nagaland (K) Niki Group, with effect from 08th September, 2021 for a period of one year,” it said.
“The Ceasefire Agreement and Agreed Ceasefire Ground Rules were signed on Wednesday,” the statement said.
The government has already signed a framework agreement with NSCN (IM) and ceasefire agreements with other Naga groups namely, NSCN (NK), NSCN (R) and NSCN (K)-Khango.
Earlier, the government signed an agreement with NLFT (SD) in August 2019 under which 88 cadres along with 44 weapons had joined the mainstream in Tripura.
In January 2020, with the signing of Bodo Agreement, more than 2,250 cadres of insurgent groups, including all factions of NDFB, along with 423 weapons and huge quantity of ammunition surrendered in Assam and joined the mainstream.
On February 23 this year, 1040 leaders and cadres of various underground Karbi groups of Assam surrendered along with 338 weapons which was followed by signing of Karbi Anglong Agreement on September 4.
In 2015, NSCN (K) unilaterally abrogated the 2001 ceasefire agreement with the Centre following which the Home Ministry declared the group as a banned outfit and an “unlawful association”.
After that, NSCN (K), led by SS Khaplang went on to establish a base in Myanmar. However, after Khaplang’s death in 2017, the group split into many factions.
The National Socialist Council of Nagaland (K) Niki Group is one of the factions.
