Centre Extends Ceasefire Agreement With NSCN Faction

New Delhi: The centre government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended the ceasefire agreement with the Niki Sumi-led faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-K) for an additional year. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) confirmed on Thursday that the renewed pact will be in effect from September 8, 2024, to September 7, 2025.

The extension of the ceasefire agreement with this splinter group of the NSCN-K comes amid ongoing efforts to address insurgency issues in Nagaland. Niki Sumi, the leader of this faction, is wanted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which has announced a ₹10 lakh reward for his capture in connection with the alleged killing of 18 Army soldiers in Manipur in 2015.

The initial ceasefire agreement was signed on September 6, 2021, marking a significant step towards peace in the region. 

The MHA statement highlighted that this extension aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of an "insurgency-free and prosperous North East" and is part of the broader Naga peace process.

The Centre had previously signed a framework agreement with the major Naga group, NSCN-IM, on August 3, 2015, aiming to find a lasting solution to the conflict. Despite these efforts, talks with NSCN-IM have stalled due to their demands for a separate Naga flag and constitution, which the Union government has rejected.

The government is also engaged in peace negotiations with several other NSCN splinter groups, including NSCN-NK, NSCN-R, and NSCN (K) Khango. The original ceasefire agreement in 1997 was a result of over 80 rounds of negotiations spanning 18 years, marking a pivotal moment in addressing the longstanding insurgency in Nagaland.