Naga Peace Talks: Top officials to meet NSCN-K leader Niki Sumi on Dec 28

Kohima: A team of top officials has scheduled a meet with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K) leader Niki Sumi on December 28 to clarify the final ceasefire agreement to be inked with the coming days.

The Government of India has already given NSCN/GPRN the assurance of a ceasefire as soon as possible to further strengthen the Naga peace process and talks have been going on to maintain an amicable relationship with a permanent solution; inclusive of all Naga stakeholders is underway.

However, it remains unclear whether the NSCN (K) breakaway faction led by Niki Sumi will join the Naga National Political Group (NNPG) or will decide to take part in the peace process as a separate entity.

The NSCN (K) had announced a ceasefire on December 23 and said that it has contacted the central government for initiating a peace dialogue.

Initially, the NSCN (K) had signed a ceasefire with the Centre in 2001 but unilaterally abrogated it in 2015.

Niki Sumi is the prime suspect in the attack on an Army convoy in Manipur's Chandel district on June 4, 2015. As many as 18 Indian Army soldiers were killed in the ambush carried out by NSCN (K) cadres who had come from Myanmar. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for his arrest.

Sumi was expelled from a Myanmar-based camp of the NSCN (K) in the month of June last year, following which the Indian securities have been trying to trail him.

He floated a new outfit on December 18.

Meanwhile, the securities had worked on Sumi's return to India with an eye to conclude the Naga Peace deal. This development had arrived prior to Union Minister's visit to Manipur and Assam on December 26 and December 27.

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