Imchen instructs district administrations to apply SOP

Kohima, Jun 17 (UNI) Nagaland Home Minister Imkong L Imchen has instructed all the district administrations in the state to implement the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) to flush out the underground armed cadres from civilian-populated areas and stop inter-factional killings for the protection of life and property of the citizens.

Official sources said here today that Mr Imchen was on a whirlwind tour to the district headquarters of Zunheboto, Longleng and Mon, where he attended the District Coordination Committee meeting with the officials of district administration, police, Indian Reserve Battalion, Assam Rifles, Nagaland Armed Police, Gaon Burahs and Dobhasis and prominent citizens.

He said the Nagas were yearning for peace and therefore maintaining peace and tranquility among the civilians was the prime duty of the district administrations with the help of police, security forces and public leaders by implementing SOP, the guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

He also asserted that the MHA was giving strong thrust to the state government to use the security forces to the maximum to provide security to the civilian populace.

He affirmed that both the NSCN factions had signed Ceasefire Agreement with the Centre separately on their own and they should also implement the ceasefire ground rules on which they had agreed.

He said the Gaon Burahs and Dobhasis were traditionally the guardians of law in the Naga society and encouraged them to continue their initiative for peace and reconciliation amongst the factions as a neutral body.

Nagaland Commissioner H K Khullu, who also accompanied him, urged the district administrations to brace their intelligence network and be vigilant and ready to shoulder the responsibility at any point of time if the situation demanded.

He also clarified that the flush-out operations were aimed at not allowing the armed cadres to stay in public areas.

State Road and Bridges Minister Kaito, Education Minister Nyeiwang Konyak, Parliamentary Secretaries P.Dako Phom and S.

Pangnyu, MLAs Noklutoshi and Shetoyi, Commissioner Khullu and Secretary Home S T Sangtam also accompanied Mr Imchen.

UNI AS DPM AB 1134