Nagaland Home Minister concerned over factional clashes

Kohima, Apr 8 (UNI) Nagaland Home Minister Imkong L Imchen today expressed concern over the fratricidal killings among the Naga brethren in inter-factional clashes.

Addressing senior police officials at the Police Headquarters here, the minister asked the officers to apply their wisdom to thwart inter-factional clashes among various underground groups.

''The responsibility of the police, as the law-enforcing agency, is to safeguard the lives and properties of the citizens. The inter-factional clashes not only lead to fratricidal killings, but also threaten the lives and properties of the peaceful citizens of the state.'' He lamented that the underground factions were on a ceasefire with the Centre, but fighting among themselves.

He opined that the intelligence network of the police department should be strengthened to acquire advanced information on the inter-factional fights and accordingly take precautionary measures to prevent such clashes.

Mr Imchen said the Indian Reserve Battalion(IRB) was well-trained to maintain the law and order situation and asked the Battalion Commanders to train the Nagaland Armed Police(NAP) personnel to provide adequate advanced training.

Earlier, welcoming the guests, state Director General of Police (DGP) J Chankija appreciated the police officials for their performance in the last Assembly elections in Nagaland.

He said barring some clashes among the political party workers, where some people were killed, the overall performance of the police department was satisfactory.

On the inter-factional clashes among the underground groups, the DGP said as the underground groups had ceasefire agreements with the Centre, the state police has taken the ''policy of non-confrontation'' with the underground outfits.

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