Central panel arrives in Nagaland to study demand for separate state

Kohima: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) formed a three-person central team, which arrived in Nagaland and spoke with various Naga groups to explore the demand for a separate state known as "Frontier Nagaland," officials said here on Saturday.

A separate state, called "Frontier Nagaland," made up of six of Nagaland's 16 districts, has been demanded by the Eastern Nagaland Peoples' Organization (ENPO) and a few other groups.

A Nagaland government official reported that since Friday, the central team, which is led by the adviser (North East) A.K. Mishra, has met with leaders of ENPO, seven other tribal organisations, the Eastern Nagaland Women Organization, the Eastern Nagaland Students' Federation, and representatives of the "Gaon Bura Union."

The central team would also be meeting leaders of other religious communities (Hindu and Muslim) under the ENPO region besides Deputy Commissioners and Superintendent of Police.

On Sunday, the team is expected to visit the International Trade Centre (ITC) DAN Pangsha in Noklak district along the Indo-Myanmar border area and interact with the villages.

The team is also expected to meet other leaders in Kohima before their departure to Delhi.

The other members of the central team include, Dr Mandeep Singh, Joint Director, of Intelligence Bureau and A.K. Dhayani, Director, (North East Division, MHA) would be visiting the eastern region of Nagaland.

The ENPO earlier in a statement stated that Union Home Minister Amit Shah highlighted a clear road-map for an amicable, legislative and sustainable solution to their demand which also includes consultation with the people of eastern Nagaland and the state government.

A delegation of ENPO met the Home Minister in New Delhi earlier this month and Shah told them that he is likely to visit Eastern Nagaland by January next year.

In support of their demand for the creation of 'Frontier Nagaland' seven tribes of eastern Nagaland rejected the state government's appeal to boycott the 10-day long famous 'Hornbill Festival', which concluded on December 10.

Seven tribes of eastern Nagaland including Chang, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Phom, Tikhir, Sangtam and Yimkhiung are spread across six districts.

On the separate state demand, the Nagaland cabinet has recently resolved that whenever the Nagaland Legislative Assembly session is convened, legislators and members of the Eastern Nagaland Legislators' Union (ENLU), if and when they desire to discuss, may move accordingly and the issue would be deliberated threadbare.