Two weeks after both the factions of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) — which are currently in a ceasefire with the Government — asked their cadres to refrain from interfering in the “Indian elections”, the Congress has accused the NSCN (I-M) of intimidating its candidates. It has alleged that former CM and top Nagaland People’s Front (NPF) leader Neiphui Rio is seeking the blessings of the outfit to win the elections.The Congress candidate for the Pfutsero Assembly constituency, K Therie, claims 60 to 70 cadres of the NSCN (I-M) had been intimidating party workers in at least two constituencies. “Some cadres of the Naga National Council (NNC) have joined them and they have taken away three vehicles belonging to my workers,” says Therie, pointing that on February 19, the NSCN (I-M) had asked its cadres to keep off the elections.Therie claimed that the NSCN workers were actively working for the Nagaland People’s Front (NPF). Incidentally, he quit the NPF and joined the Congress only last month. “We have lodged a complaint with the police and with the Election Commission,” Therie said. According to him, several top NPF leaders, including Rio, had visited Hebron, the headquarters of the NSCN (I-M), on February 22. “I don’t know what they discussed. But it was after the meeting that the NSCN (I-M) cadres became active in my constituency,” he said.Not only does the NPF deny these allegations — with its secretary general Chubatemjen Ao calling the charges false and baseless — but it also claims that the NSCN (I-M) has actually been openly working against its candidates in some constituencies in Mokukchung district.“I am saying with authority that Rio never went to Hebron to meet any NSCN (I-M) leader. There is no question of our leader meeting them. Our policy is to maintain equi-closeness to all the factions,” Ao told The Indian Express. On the other hand, said Lanuklaba, president of the NPF’s Mokukchung division, miscreants under the patronage of the NSCN (I-M) had destroyed some of its offices and election camps in the area.
