(Second from left) Naga National Council vice-president B. Pashen and Federal Government of Nagaland president V. Metha at Chedema peace camp on Tuesday. Telegraph picture

Kohima, Sept. 6: The Naga Baptist Church and the Naga National Council today prayed for the well-being of the family members of former Assam chief minister Bimala Prasad Chaliha and his team for the signing of ceasefire on September 6, 1964, on the 48th Indo-Naga Ceasefire Day, also observed as Peace Day.

The Nagaland Peace Mission comprised Chaliha, veteran freedom fighter Jayaprakash Narayan and a prominent clergyman from England, Rev. Michael Scott.

The mission was formed by the Nagaland Baptist Church Council to restore peace in the state when there was virtually a war between the Indian security forces and the “Naga army”.

It had claimed thousands of lives, including civilians, and atrocities like mass rape, burning of villages and other inhuman acts were rampant. Observing the ceasefire day at Chedema peace camp near Kohima, leaders from the church council and the national council thanked the peace mission, led by Chaliha, that had with great difficulty convinced Naga leaders and the Centre to sign a ceasefire agreement, which brought “great joy” and hope for the Nagas in 1964.

“We are really thankful to the Church and the peace mission for restoring peace in Nagaland. We have indeed always kept in mind the beginning of peace work and express our gratitude to the mission and the church council for all that they had done in the past and continue to do today,” the secretary of the national council, L. Kaiso, said.

During the third Nagaland Baptist Convention at Wokha from January 31 to February 2, the church council resolved to form a mission to restore peace and find an amicable solution to the Naga political problem. “We are very much thankful to them for their achievement in restoring peace and normality in Nagaland,” Kaiso said.

“Whatever may be the situation in Nagaland, the federal government of Nagaland reasonably continue to uphold the Indo-Naga ceasefire agreement of 1964 till date so that our people feel strong to work hand-in-hand,” he said.

A Baptist clergyman, Rev. V.K. Nuh, urged people to remain grateful to those who worked hard to restore peace in Nagaland.

He, however, said no amount of material development could heal the deep wounds of the Naga people.

“There are thousands of widows and orphans, thousands of people live like invalids. They have suffered from innumerable losses both in terms of property and human lives,” Nuh said.

He said the cry of Naga people had grown louder and louder for permanent peace, but added that it was a costly affair and could not be achieved unless all came together and worked.

“Peace cannot be enforced authoritatively by any power. If we really seek peace, we must learn what justice is. When justice is attained, peace always prevails,” the Baptist preacher said.

The Pochury community, on the other hand, observed today as a black day against Indian security forces’ atrocities in the 1960s during the conflict period.