The decision was taken today during a high-level security meeting, held at state home minister Imkong L. Imchen’s office, and was also attended by staff officer G. Rengma, a representative from the Ceasefire Monitoring Group.
“Henceforth, police will not provide escorts to rebel leaders unless the state government is specifically directed by the central government for a specific purpose,” Imchen said.
He said escorts were provided to Naga militant leaders according to a requisition from the monitoring group, adding that no such security would be provided to the militants unless there were specific instructions from the Union ministry of home affairs.
Top leaders of Naga militants groups have been moving around with police escorts, while Isak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah, chairman and general secretary of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim, are placed under Z-plus category by the Centre.
On unabated extortion by militants, especially in Dimapur, the commercial hub of Nagaland, Imchen urged the signatories of the ceasefire agreement to implement the clauses in totality so as to curb the menace.
According to the agreements with the Centre, both the NSCN (I-M) and NSCN (Khaplang) factions were not allowed to extort money from people.
Imchen said extortion by militants was absolutely against the ceasefire agreement.
He said the state government supported the agreements and equally respected the ground rules adopted by the parties. However, he regretted the violation of the rules by the militants.
He said cadres from different factions were collecting money from people, shops, business establishments and government offices.
“It is in total violation of the commitment made by both factions of their own accords,” Imchen told The Telegraph.
He refused to disclose the total number of cadres operating in Nagaland. However, he said the Assam Rifles and the state police had been making all efforts to check extortion by militants.