Nagaland: Flush out op not against faction

Kohima, Aug 5: Nagaland Commissioner H K Khulu has clarified that the flush out operations, under Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in the populated areas of Nagaland, was not targetting any particular faction, but to provide security to the citizens.

Official sources said here today Mr Khulu disclosed this at the District Level Coordination Groups (DLCG) meeting held here yesterday.

Earlier, the NSCN-IM had issued a ''caution notice'' to Kohima Deputy Commissioner Sachopra Vero, alleging that the SOP was targetting only a particular faction.

Mr Khulu said the SOP, as per guidelines given by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), was being conducted all over the state due to frequent inter-factional clashes between the rival factions of the NSCN and other outfits in the civilian populated areas, which had already claimed many civilian lives.

He clarified that it was the bounden duty of the state government to provide security to the citizens, but not to confront with the cadres of any particular underground faction.

The meeting was attended by District Superintendent of Police Renchamo Kikon, Commandant of the Nagaland Armed Police (NAP) at Thizama Z Mero, Commandant and Deputy Commandant of 26th Battalion of Assam Rifles, president of the Angami Public Organisation Mhiesizokho Zinyu, president of Rengma Hoho Sawathang Kez, president of the Angami Students' Union K Yhome, Gaon Burahs and Dobhasis of all the areas and villages of the district and officials of the district administration posted outside Kohima town.

UNI