Union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai on Wednesday met general secretary of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) Thuingaleng Muivah and told him about the decisions taken by the Manipur government and the Centre's renewed appeal to postpone his visit to his ancestral village Somdal in Manipur's Ukhrul district.
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, some of his Cabinet colleagues, representatives of civil society organisations and Centre's interlocutor for the Naga peace talks R.S. Pandey were present. The meeting took place at Viswema, 10 km away from the Mao Gate, entry point of Manipur.
“Mr. Pillai informed Mr. Muivah that the Manipur government has decided to withdraw commandos of the Manipur Rifles from the Mao Gate and revoke the curfew to facilitate the return of 1,000 people who had fled from Manipur and taken refuge in Nagaland,” Mr. Rio told The Hindu over phone from Kohima.
Probe into deaths
The Manipur government had also decided to institute a probe into the circumstances leading to the death of two persons at the Mao Gate on May 6 during a protest over Manipur's refusal to allow Mr. Muivah to enter the State.
Asked about Mr. Muivah's response to Mr Pillai's request, Mr. Rio said the NSCN (I-M) leader was determined to visit Somdal. “It is for the Centre to prevail upon the Manipur government.”
Mr. Rio said he also handed over to Mr. Pillai a video footage purportedly containing brutalities committed by Manipur Rifles personnel on peaceful protesters at the Mao Gate.
Mr. Pandey told journalists that officials requested Mr. Muivah to wait till the situation became congenial.
