People welcome clean up operation in Nagaland

Kohima, June 21 : People of Nagaland have welcomed the joint operations to flush out militants from civilian areas in the State.

The operations were launched after several civilian casualties took place due to factional clashes among militants.

The need for such action was also felt after series of peace march in the last one month by the civil society groups to rid the state of militancy.

The joint operations have been launched by Assam Rifles, CRPF, Police, IRB and district administration.

"Because of the earlier untoward incidents, police and paramilitary forces along with district administration have been carrying out flushing out operations of underground groups from civilian areas. It has been a success," said member of Chumukedima Town Council.

The people of Seithkema village, which has seen two incidents of factional clashes in the span of fifteen days, welcomed the initiatives taken by the government.

"Evacuating the underground groups from civilian populated areas has worked well as they have gone away. Now, there is peace in the village," said Keneishe, chairman, Seithekema Women Society.

Meanwhile, businessmen in Dimpur are feeling a sense of relief after the Operations. They were the worst sufferers, as they had to close their business establishments and shell out extortion money to the militant groups.

They feel that the tough action by the government will help ease pressure from them.

"I have been doing business here for a long time. With the help of GBs and DBs in line with district administration, Dimapur citizens are in peace and are able to roam about freely. So I appreciate their work," said Thejo, a businessman.

Most of the factional clashes between the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) groups have taken place in the Dimapur area in the last couple of months that has claimed more than fifty lives.

"Underground groups in different factions are all Nagas, all belong to one family, so let us give up enmity amongst each other and let Nagas live in peace. The intellectuals and leaders of the society need to reason whether these groups are working for the national cause. We need to think hard and control them so that peace flourishes in our land," said Rev Viratuo Rurhie, a resident, Chumukedima.

Fed up with constant infighting and killing of people, Nagaland has started showing their angst against the Naga factional groups in the last few months. By Vibou Ganguly

ANI