Ceasefires have become licenses for criminal activities: Nagaland MLA Kuzholuzo Nienu

Nagaland MLA warns ceasefires fuel criminal activities, calls for government intervention to enforce rule of law.

“The ceasefires between the Centre and some factions of extremist groups catering to Naga nationalism have turned into licenses for criminal activities instead of fostering peace and stability,” a Nagaland MLA has said.

Kuzholuzo Nienu, an MLA of the Naga People’s Front (NPF) told the 60-member State Assembly on Thursday (August 29, 2024) that the People’s Democratic Alliance government should rein in the armed cadres and direct them not to issue parallel orders and directives to the people on various issues.

“The mandated government should give orders. The rule of law needs to be enforced,” he said in the House without any Opposition after all political parties joined the ruling coalition headed by the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP).

Explained | What is the NSCN and where do the Naga peace talks stand now?

“The ceasefires seem to have given the licence (to some groups) for various criminal activities. Innocent people are being tortured and harassed under the guise of ceasefire and even pastors are not being spared,” Mr. Nienu said, pointing out that extremist groups were “popping up like mushrooms” and exploiting the ceasefire to engage in nefarious activities.

Apart from measures to control the activities of the ceasefire groups, he called for a crackdown on the non-ceasefire groups.

Mr. Nienu’s plea was similar to the content of a letter former Nagaland Governor R.N. Ravi wrote to Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on June 16, 2020, complaining about extortionist “armed groups” running the show in the State. The armed groups or extremists are referred to as political groups in Nagaland.