The Nagaland government has decided not to provide police escorts to any Naga underground leader anymore, unless specifically directed by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
This has been a practice that had become the order of the day in Nagaland after declaration of truce between Naga rebels and the government over a decade ago
It was decided in a high-level security review meeting chaired by Nagaland Home Minister Imkong Imchen.
"So far, the state police have been providing security escorts to Naga underground leaders on the requisition from the chairman of the Ceasefire Monitoring Group. But now, we are going to put an end to it," Imchen said.
The Nagaland government has also taken serious view of the rampant extortion resorted to by rebel groups in truce (both the factions of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland) in sharp violation of ceasefire ground rules.
The business community in Dimapur, the state's commercial hub, recently threatened to down shutters in protest against the extortions.
"The state government is seriously concerned on the prevailing trend of rampant extortion and forceful collection everywhere in the state and in particular Kohima and Dimapur," Home Minister Imkong L. Imchen said, adding that Nagaland police and Assam Rifles are gearing up vigil against extortion operations of rebels.
As per ceasefire ground rules, which were agreed upon by both groups of NSCN --NSCN- Isak-Muivah and NSCN- Khaplang --they were not supposed to indulge in extortions.
But both the factions have made extortions look common in the troubled state by targetting members of the public and even government officials in clear violation of ceasefire ground rules.
The Nagaland government has issued a standing instruction asking all government departments to inform the concerned deputy commissioner and superintendent of police whenever they receive demand for extortion from rebel groups or individual members of those groups. However, there have been few responses.
