New Delhi, Aug. 8: Delhi is considering adding a third Naga battalion to the armed forces.

Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio said the defence ministry had indicated that the battalion would be raised soon. “We made the proposal immediately after assuming power and the indications so far have been positive. I will raise the subject again during my meeting with George Fernandes.”

Rio said a proposal to shift the training centre from Ranikhet to Nagaland had been forwarded, too. Apart from this, the state wants the composition ratio of the two existing battalions revised to 80:20 to offer more job opportunities to Naga youth. At present, Nagas account for less than 50 per cent of the posts.

The Naga Regiment, comprising two battalions, is the first to be raised after Independence and is affiliated to the Kumaon Regiment. The first battalion, comprising nearly 1,000 soldiers, was raised in 1970. The second was constituted at Haldwani in 1985.

The Naga Regiment comprises Nagas, Kumaons, Garhwalis and Gorkhas. Known as “head-hunters” in the army, the regiment demonstrated its fighting prowess during the 1971 war and more recently during the Kargil conflict, when Pakistani intruders were driven away from Tiger Hill and Mushkoh Valley.

On the situation in Nagaland, Rio said his government was doing its best to maintain peace. He briefed deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani yesterday about the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland’s efforts to end fratricidal clashes between Naga groups, especially the Isak-Muivah and Khaplang factions of the NSCN.

“The situation is undoubtedly improving, and the people want the peace process to move ahead at a reasonable pace. We have intimated the Centre about their feelings,” he said.

The Rio government recently decided to form a new committee with “mass representation” to continue the campaign for unity among Naga groups. The Naga Hoho, too, started a dialogue with various groups to set up a new panel to replace the Reconciliation Commission, which was rejected by the NSCN (I-M).