Centre signs ceasefire agreement with Niki Sumi faction of the NSCN (K)
The agreement will remain in force for one year with effect from September 8, 2021, a statement from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) read. According to the MHA, more than 200 cadres of the group along with 83 weapons joined the peace process.
In a significant boost to the Naga peace process, the Government of India signed a ceasefire agreement with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (K) Niki Sumi faction on Wednesday.
The agreement will remain in force for one year with effect from September 8, 2021, a statement from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) read. According to the MHA, more than 200 cadres of the group along with 83 weapons joined the peace process.
"In fulfilling the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of 'Insurgency free and prosperous North East' and in a significant boost to Naga peace process, under the guidance of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the government of India enters into a ceasefire agreement with National Socialist Council of Nagaland (K) Niki Group," the statement said.
The statement also said that the Government of India 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.
Notably, Niki Sumi was the prime accused in the killing of 18 Indian Army soldiers in Manipur in 2015 and the National Investigation Agency had announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for his arrest.
With an aim to bring long-lasting peace in the Northeast, the Indian government had earlier signed similar bilateral agreements with the insurgent groups in Nagaland, Tripura and Assam, wherein cadres in large numbers agreed to join the mainstream.
(Edited by Shankar Kumar Turha)
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