Rio says underground factional clashes are Central subject

Kohima, Dec 14 (UNI) Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today said the factional clashes between the underground groups are of Central subject and are not state government's law and order problem.

''The group clashes are political problems which should be looked by the Union government'', he told the Nagaland Legislative Assembly today.

Answering a question of Congress MLA C Apok Jamir, Mr Rio said the factional clashes between the banned outfits should be looked after by the Union Government as it (Centre) has a cell ''Cease-Fire Monitoring Group'' (CFMG) in Nagaland to monitor the implementation of the Cease-Fire Ground Rules.

He said the state government was only a facilitator of the peace process between the Centre and the NSCN groups. He also appealed to the opposition Congress members to cooperate with the state government to discourage such inter-factional clahes, as the elected representatives had greater responsibility for safety of the people.

Earlier, state Home Minister Thenucho said due to defective Cease-Fire Ground Rules, the factional clashes were occurring. He also expressed serious concern over the clashes and said the state government was trying its best to curb them.

He said it was unfortunate that a faction had served ''Quit Notice'' to a particular Naga tribe.

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