Naga insurgent group NSCN (K) Niki signs ceasefire pact with Centre for peace in Nagaland

In a big development on Wednesday, Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (K) Niki Group signed a ceasefire pact with Centre to bring lasting peace in Nagaland. Alrey, Union government has entered into similar agreements with or Naga groups such as NSCN(NK), NSCN(R) and NSCN(K)-Khango besides signing a Framework Agreement with NSCN(IM). present pact was signed by Piyush Goyal, ditional Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs and Nikato Pilot Sumi and Abel Zingru Thuer who are members of militant group.

agreement ded, " ceasefire will be applicable for a period of one year with effect from 8th September 2021 to 7th September 2022. ceasefire will be subject to herence to Ceasefire Ground Rules to be mutually agreed and signed by two sides. Ceasefire Ground Rules will be subject to mutual review and amendment with involvement of both parties."

Meanwhile, MHA welcomed agreement and stated that it was in line with PM Modi's vision of an "Insurgency free and prosperous rth East". Moreover, it revealed that over 200 cres of this insurgent group surrendered along with 83 weapons and joined peace process. This is being perceived as an attempt to isolate NSCN (Khaplang) which was proscribed in 2015 under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. 

Alleged involvement in terror attack

Niki Sumi who les NSCN (K) Niki Group h broken away from NSCN (Khaplang) group in 2017 after death of latter's founder SS Khapland. Incidentally, he is wanted by NIA in connection with attack on an Army convoy in Chandel, Manipur on June 4, 2015, which resulted in death of 18 personnel. At that juncture, he served as military operations chief of NSCN (Khaplang) group. While NIA anunced a reward of Rs.10 lakh for his capture, Enforcement Directorate provisionally attached assets of his wife Shelly Sumi to tune of Rs.4.23 crore. 

As per reports, he offered to revive ceasefire agreement in 2020 after floating his faction of NSCN. On September 4, Centre, Assam government and insurgency groups from state signed an agreement to bring peace to Karbi Anglong district. As a precursor, 1040 leers of various Karbi groups of Assam h surrendered along with 338 weapons on February 23 earlier this year.