Thenucho condemns fratricidal killings

Kohima, Mar 20 (UNI) The Opposition Congress in Nagaland assembly today cornered Home Minister Thenucho for the government's alleged failure to maintain law and order in the state.

Raising a question on the inter-factional clashes of the underground factions Congress legislator Itaka Masa Ao said the clashes were incresing and the law enforcing agencies had allegedly failed to maintain the law and order.

In his reply Mr Thenucho admitted that the clashes had increased to some extent during the last three months and forces of Nagaland Armed Police, Indian Reserve Battalion and Assam Rifles personnel were deployed to check such incidents.

Leader of Opposition I Imkong in his supplementary question alleged that the state police and security forces were not taking action to stop such clashes.

In his reply the home minister condemned the inter-factional clashes and said the state police maintained utomost restraint even after one of the IRB jawans was injured in such a clash at Athibung under Peren district in February. He further alleged that some forces were provoking for the inter-factional clashes.

At this Congress's I Imkong and K V Pusa asked him to disclose the names but the minister said these were under investigation.

Former Finance Minister K Therie, who was forced to resigned from the Ruling Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) government, informed the House that the Agreed Cease-fire Ground rules had clearly mentioned that maintaining law and order was to be maintained by the state government, and it had failed to do so.

UNI AS PL SKM1635