Nagaland: Rio claims law

Touphema, Feb 26: Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has claimedthat the law and order situation of the state is normal and undercontrol except for some inter-factional clashes among the undergroundgroups.

He, however, refuted the charges of the opposition Congress thatthe state machinery has failed to control the law and order situation.

Addressing mediapersons on the sidelines of the Sekrenyi festivalhere yesterday, he said the state law enforcing agency could hardly doanything as both the warring NSCN factions have ceasefire agreementwith the Union Government.

''If any action is to be taken, it should be a joint effort of theCentre and the state governments,'' he said adding the state governmentwas very serious on the issue and took utmost caution that no civilianor their properties were damaged in the factional clashes.

He said the Centre has already accepted the matter as a nationalpolitical issue and accordingly maintained cease-fire agreement withthe NSCN factions. ''Now it is the duty of the Centre to deal with theissue politically and stop of the factional clashes,'' he added.

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