Govt to Black Widow: Give up arms for talks

Stuck in Guwahati after two abortive attempts to land in the North Cachar Hills district headquarter Haflong due to inclement weather,Union Home Secretary G K Pillai on Thursday said Black Widow or DHD-J would first have to surrender arms and get into designated camps before beginning any dialogue with the government. He also indicated that the National Socialist Council of Nagaland NSCN-IM was slowly heading towards a resolution of its three decade old separatist movement and the next round of talks between the government and the rebel group would take place soon.

The government has seen the DHDJs offer of a ceasefire and interest in holding talks. But they have to first prove their sincerity. They should all come to the designated camps and deposit all arms and ammunition they possess. Only then can the government considering holding any kind of talk with them, Pillai,who arrived on a two-day trip to Assam,said.

Pillai said there was no question of a separate state for Dimasa tribals as demanded by the DHDJ,saying the Centres stand on statehood demands had been made clear during talks with other groups of Assam. The Centre instead was looking at overhauling the Sixth Schedule under which the tribal districts of Assam are governed,Pillai said.

Pillai said there were strong indications that the NSCNIM was beginning to repose faith in the Indian Constitution and was keen to find a settlement within its parameters.