Naga underground outfit agrees to ceasefire

Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral on Friday announced that an agreement had been reached with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isa-Muivah) for a ceasefire in Nagaland.

Making a suo moto statement in both the houses of Parliament, Gujral said the ceasefire would come into force for three months from August 1. In talks with the NSCN (IM), a ceasefire had been agreed upon followed by talks at the political level.

The government was also in touch with the other insurgent groups which had promised to suspend their activities, Gujral said.

Gujral said the fratricidal confrontations amongst the various Naga groups and the state authorities have led to a loss of life, seriously disturbed the public order, and thwarted the economic development of the state. He added that the state's people are fed up with the violence and yearn for peace.

Soon after assuming office, the prime minister said he had visited Nagaland and other states in the North-East. "I had reiterated the government's willingness to hold talks without any prior conditions with the underground elements."

UNI