
Morung Express News
November 15
DIMAPUR: In the backdrop of allegations that the ceasefire ground rules were being openly violated by both factions of the NSCN, Chairman of the Ceasefire Monitoring/Supervisory Group/Board Lt Gen (Retd) RV Kulkarni today said that the matter would be reported and taken up with the Government of India at an appropriate time. Kulkarni clarified that his role was merely to ‘monitor’ and implement the ground rules as agreed between New Delhi and both the factions of the NSCN. “My role is only to monitor the situation and it is the responsibility of the Government of India to enforce the rules through the various agencies under its control”, Kulkarni told The Morung Express over phone from Kohima.
Mentioning that he was in touch with functionaries of both factions, Kulkarni also pointed out that any movement of armed cadres had to be checked by security forces and the police as per the ground rules.
On the assassination of former DGP Hesso Mao allegedly by NSCN (K) cadres, Kulakarni said he was waiting for the official police report and refused to divulge further. Kularni however said that Hesso’s killing was ‘not a normal crime’ and the motive behind it had to be ‘thoroughly investigated’.
The Government of India-NSCN (IM) ceasefire was signed on August 1, 1997 with the agreed ground rules which included cessation of ‘active’ military operations by security forces while curbing activities of the NSCN (IM) such as kidnapping, extortion, killing etc. Further on January 13, 2001, both sides met in New Delhi to finalise the ‘Revised Agreed Ground Rules’ that governed the modalities of the ongoing cease-fire.
A similar agreement was signed with the NSCN (K) on May 28, 2001.