The death last week of S.S. Khaplang, who headed the second largest faction of Naga rebels, has opened what I like to call the Naga Pandemonium Box, by another notch. Sumi, of the Sumi, or Sema tribe of Nagaland, was present during Khaplang’s funeral rites on 12 June, saluting his former boss. About the only group that is likely to be entirely upset with the post-Khaplang faction’s unity are their arch-enemies, the largest Naga rebel group, NSCN (I-M). I-M has since played hardball to ensure they remain the voice for a post-conflict Naga future, an increasingly contentious position. It would throw all equations comprising the government of two countries, four Indian states, and at least a dozen rebel groups, into greater flux.

Source: Mint June 14, 2017 18:11 UTC