Kohima 23 June:Nagaland Home Minister Imkong L. Imchen, accompanied by Home Secretary T.C. Sangtam visited Mokokchung headquarter on 20th June 2008 and held a meeting with the District Administrative Officers, Police Officers and Judicial Officers at the D.C’s conference hall.The Home Minister reviewed the implementation of Ceasefire ground rules and Special Operation Procedures (SOPs) in the meeting. The Minister lamented over the prevailing state of affairs in all the districts of Nagaland wherein extortion, intimidation and killing were rampant and the people left terrorized. He admitted that earlier the Government was not in a position to address the problem and that it just remained a mute spectator.
He said the situation has now changed where the prime concern of the government is to provide peace and security to the people. Imchen asserted that it was now time to show the existence of the government and to show the people that ‘We Care’. The minister regretted the call for peace and tranquility and prayers by various organizations in the state went to deaf ears.
Therefore, the felt that those underground cadres not staying in designated camps should be arrested and booked under the National Security Act. He reminded that the state Government has the authority to use force or retaliate under compelling situations through the SOPs. He further stated that the urgent need of the hour was to stop the clash between the two NSCNs and called upon them to raise their voices in unison as their sole objective was the same.
Earlier in the day the Home Minister also held another meeting with GBs, DBs, Ao senden, AKM and NGOs in the town hall wherein he emphasized the inherent culture of forgiveness which we practiced among ourselves from time immemorial, adding that the present practice followed by underground brothers was a complete deviation from our Naga custom. He therefore called upon the people to unite and fight for permanent peace in the state, as we have peace with India but not within ourselves. The Home Secretary also exhorted the gathering in the meeting.