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GUWAHATI: Over 50 cadres of the Niki Sumi faction of the banned
NSCN (K) have come overground in Nagaland. While a ceasefire pact between with
the breakaway militant faction and the Government of India (GoI) seems
imminent, there is still no clarity on how this new group would join the
ongoing peace talks. "The Government of India would take a call on it,"
informed sources, adding, "Whether they join as a separate group with the Naga
National Political Groups (NNPGs) or whether they are asked to merge with one
of the groups already in talks would depend on the numbers they can muster."
About 52 members of the faction have so far come overground to join the peace
process in Nagaland, informed the source.
Alezo Venuh, coordinator of the 'Working Committee' of the NNPGs -- a group of seven Naga outfits -- said that there is no communication yet on the Niki Sumi faction. "They have said they want to join the peace process. We are happy, and we welcome them," said Venuh.
Asked if Sumi and his associates would join the eight-member 'Working Committee' of the NNPGs, Venuh said, "It is for the Government of India to take that call. The talks have already concluded."
After the 2015 framework agreement with the NSCN (I-M) -- the largest of the Naga armed groups -- six other groups joined the peace talks parallelly as part of the NNPGs' Working Committee. A seventh group -- the Khango Konyak-faction of the NSCN (K) -- joined the 'Working Committee' in 2018 after Konyak, a former chief of the Myanmar-based militant outfit was ousted by Yung Aung who took over the reins of the group.
The NSCN(K) split again in July 2020 when Sumi, Nyamlang Konyak Naga, and Starson Lamkang Naga were reportedly expelled by the Yung Aung faction. Their camp was later reportedly attacked by the Yung Aung faction, forcing them to escape. Nyamlang joined the NSCN(R) in September.
It is not clear when and how Sumi returned to India but his first public statement appeared on December 23 when he said his outfit is aware of "the sincere and genuine efforts" of the Government of India to find a lasting solution to the Naga issue and that his groups have resolved to strengthen and support the peace process at this crucial juncture. The statement added that the group's leadership has established contact with the officials of the GoI.
In his second statement on December 26, Sumi claimed that contact was established on the invitation of the GoI.
On the invitation of the GoI to join the peace process, NSCN/GPRN came forward to revive the ceasefire.
Sumi is one of the main accused in the killing of 18 Army personnel on June 4, 2015. It was carried out after the outfit abrogated the ceasefire in March 2015. About 25 militants ambushed a convoy of 6 Dogra Regiment in Chandel district. The NIA chargesheet in the incident notes that 15 soldiers were grievously injured. The chargesheet also said that the attack was a conspiracy hatched by NSCN(K), KYKL and KCP -- all banned outfits. (Agencies)
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