Chidambaram asks north-east militants to abjure violence

The Centre today warned that it will not entertain any ceasefire offer from militants and asked insurgent groups in the North Cachar hills areas of Assam to lay down arms and come for talks.

The Centre on Friday warned that it will not entertain any ceasefire offer from militants and asked insurgent groups in the North Cachar hills areas of Assam to lay down arms and come for talks.

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"We made it very clear that we will not entertain any ceasefire from militant groups. Militant groups are most welcome to abjure the path of violence, lay down arms and come for talks," Home Minister P Chidambaram said in the Rajya Sabha in response to a Calling Attention Notice on ethnic violence in the hills district of Assam.

Referring to one of the militant outfits, Dima Halam Daogah (Joel group) offering ceasefire, he said "militant groups cannot offer ceasefire to a sovereign country... First abjure the path of violence, then we will talk".

He said the Centre has alerted Assam, Manipur and Nagaland governments that Naga militants are likely to take
advantage of the ethnic tensions in North Cachar hills.

While the situation is being closely monitored, the Centre has asked the Assam government to take steps for
containing violence, he said.

The North Cachar Hill District has witnessed ethnic tension between Zemi Naga tribes and Dimasas since March this
year.