Rio fears UG involvement in polls

Kohima, Oct 17: Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has expressed fear of involvement of the Naga underground groups (UG) in the coming Nagaland Assembly elections scheduled to be held in the early part of next year.

Addressing the Deputy Commissioners (DCs), Superintendents of Police (SPs) and Commandants of the Nagaland Armed Police (NAP) from all the districts of Nagaland at the Commissioner's office here yesterday, Mr Rio expressed apprehension of interference by the UG activists in the elections in the state.

He told the DCs and SPs that the general election in the state is only a few months away and it was their duty to ensure smooth conduct of the election process.

Rio also lamented that the present intelligence network in the state under the DCs and SPs is not good enough and advised that the DCs should be assisted by the Gaon Burahs (GB) and Dobhashis (DB), but they are not providing enough information to the DCs.

He insisted that responsibilities for the enforcement of ceasefire ground rules should be disseminated to all. There should be a District Monitoring Committee comprising members from tribal hohos (apex traditional bodies), local leaders with administration, police and para-military forces to enforce the ceasefire ground rules.

He said that the maintenance of law and order was the prime duty of the district administration.

UNI