Kohima, Feb. 18: The Nagaland government will release 56 rebels detained under the National Security Act as a “goodwill gesture”. The detained rebels include 30 members of the NSCN (IM).
A state Cabinet decision to this effect was taken at chief minister Neiphiu Rio’s official residence here yesterday. The Cabinet had met to discuss recommendations of a sub-committee formed last year in this regard.
Besides the NSCN (I-M) cadres, the list includes 24 activists from NSCN (Khaplang) and two from the Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN). All of them were arrested for being members of underground organisations, but not connected with any other penal provisions under the Indian Penal Code, an official release said here today.
“We spoke to Union home minister L.K. Advani and he was also of the view that something should be done in Nagaland on the lines of Jammu and Kashmir,” home minister T.M. Lotha said. The Kot Bhalwal jail in Jammu and Central Jail in Srinagar have often been in the news for militants being released as “goodwill gestures”.
Lotha said the decision was taken as the peace process was “making strides.” He said: “We thought at this juncture it would be proper to show a goodwill gesture towards the groups,” he said. A final order to release the detainees will be issued after the governor gives his go-ahead.
The state Cabinet had constituted the sub-committee to look into the antecedents of the detainees on December 20 last year. The panel comprised Lotha and ministers Huska Sumi, Imkong Imchen, N. Yeaqnphong, Vatsü Meru, Deo Nukhu and P. Chuba.
As many as 100 cases were referred to the committee, of which 44 were found “unfit to be released”. These included militants charged with murder, rape, robbery and other serious crimes.
Names of those who had collaborated with the underground factions or the ones not part of any rebel group were not recommended.
The latest step by the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) coalition is a departure from policies of previous governments. Chief minister Neiphiu Rio has said while the Congress maintained “equidistance” from the rebels, DAN’s policy was to have “equi-closeness”.
The government had also constituted a DAN sub-committee for peace, which is engaging various Naga rebel groups for reconciliation. Construed as anti-Khaplang, the government hopes the decision to release more than 20 members of the group may change the common perception toward it.
