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Nagaland : Centre to take up recruitment issue with NSCN(IM) |
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The Naga peace process which has been going on between the Centre and the Naga militant outfit, NSCN(IM), is likely to suffer another setback with reports that the organisation is strengthening its cadre by recruiting candidates for posts of joint secretaries for its self-styled Government of People’s Republic of Nagalim (GPRN).
The news about the NSCN(IM)’s advertisement for recruitment was prominently carried by New Delhi-based English newspaper The Indian Express in its Sept. 15 edition. The militant outfit confirmed the next day that it had put out a recruitment notice adding that it saw no problem in “regularising” services of personnel as it was not a banned outfit.
According to reports, the Centre is likely to take up the issue of the NSCN (I-M) giving advertisements for recruitment during the next round of talks with the outfit.
Sources said New Delhi had ruled out suggestions that the outfit giving advertisements for recruitment in its civil wing was a matter of concern. The sources said since the advertisements did not amount to killings or acts of violence, there was no reason to suspect anything dubious.
Talks were initiated with the outfit in 2001 and the ban on it was lifted two years ago. During the parleys held between the outfit and New Delhi last month on implementation of the ceasefire ground rules, its representatives had raised objection to the refusal of the security forces to return their seized arms. Government officials had reportedly agreed to look into the matter of the NSCN (I-M)’s demand for the return of the seized weapons.
The government is expected to take up the advertisement issue through its interlocutor K. Padmanabhaiah during the next round of talks expected to be held in the last week of this month. The sources said the NSCN (I-M) advertisement would not affect the peace parleys.
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