KOHIMA:The Nagaland government has decided not to provide police escorts to Naga underground leaders henceforth unless specifically directed by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The police have been providing escort to underground leaders on the request from the chairman of Cease-fire Monitoring Group (CFMG), Home Minister Imkong Imchen said after a high-level security meeting today.
“But henceforth we will stop it,” Imchen who convened it, told reporters here.
The police would not provide security escort to underground leaders unless the state government was specifically directed by the Centre, he said.
He said that as per cease-fire ground rules, which were agreed upon by both groups of NSCN, there would be no extortion, but both the factions were doing so targeting the public and even government officials. “It is clear violation of cease-fire ground rules.”
On extortion from government servants, the minister said there were instructions to all departments to immediately inform deputy commissioners and superintendents of police whenever there was an extortion demand, but there was hardly any response.
He said although the police and Assam Rifles were doing their best to prevent extortion it continued as the accused were immediately released on bail by courts. “It is very painful and frustrating.”
The minister urged the leaders of all underground groups to rein in their cadres, saying the government did not prefer to use force and vitiate the peaceful atmosphere in the state.
Deranged man hacks woman: Meanwhile, a woman was critically injured when a mentally unsound man attacked her with a machete at Viswema village about 22 km away from the state capital here on Friday.
Official sources said a 45-year-old man of Viswema village reportedly attacked the woman(27) with a machete thus injuring her critically.
Police said the accused came to the the woman’s residence carrying the weapon and attacked her, hitting her on the head, right arm and back causing grievous injury.
The victim was rushed to the nearby hospital where she was given first-aid and then referred to Naga Hospital, Kohima.
The man fled the scene leaving behind the weapon, sources said, adding police had launched a manhunt to nab the culprit. (Agencies)