Naga pact: Armed cadres likely to be placed in new force

NEW DELHI: Armed Naga cadres are likely to be absorbed into a newly formed security force under the terms of a peace agreement expected to be finalised within a fortnight to end the decades-old rebellion in Nagaland, known as the world’s oldest surviving insurgency, participants in the peace process said.

Together, the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (IsakMuivah), or NSCN (I-M), and Naga National Political Groups (NNPGs) – an umbrella organisation comprising seven other Naga groups –have an estimated 8,000 armed cadres. The NSCN (IM), the biggest group, has an estimated 2,500-4,000 strong cadre of armed fighters.

Weapons held by all Naga rebels are to be preserved and displayed in a newly established Naga Revolutionary Museum; autonomous councils will be formedinNaga-dominatedareas in the states of Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. A bicameralNagabodytodecide on local cultural issues will be formed under the peace deal that seems to have brought both New Delhi and the rebel organisations, which missed an October

31 deadline for signing the accord, on board.

After winning over Naga groups, the Centre is giving the final touches to the proposed deal and talking to the governments of Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam ,which also have large Naga populations, officials and Naga rebel representatives said.

Understandably, both sides are tight-lipped on efforts being madetoplugthelast-milegapsto end the Naga insurgency.