GUWAHATI, May 10 – The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) taking serious note of the situation in Manipur and Nagaland over the move by Th Muivah, general secretary of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (I-M), to visit his native village Somdal in Ukhrul district of Manipur, asked the NSCN leader to put on hold his proposed visit.

Highly placed official sources said that the Home Ministry has conveyed its stand to Muivah, who is camping in a village near theNagaland-Manipur borders through a special messenger and he has accepted the request of the Centre. Sources said that Muivah is likely to return to the NSCN headquarters in camp Hebron shortly.

Sources also said that the talks between the Government and the NSCN (I-M) are still deadlocked as the Centre has made it clear that sovereignty is not negotiable. The Government also rejected the demand of the NSCN for the creation of Greater Nagalim with inclusion of Naga-inhabited areas of the neighbouring States of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pardesh. Sources said that the State Assemblies of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur have already adopted resolutions opposing inclusion of any area of the States in Greater Nagalim and under the circumstances, it would be impossible for the Centre to accept the NSCN’s demand.

Meanwhile, commenting on the possibility of Bangladesh handing over ULFA general secretary Anup Chetia to India, sources said thatthe Government of India made a fresh request to Bangladesh in this regard recently. Sources said that the Government of Bangladesh has accepted the fact that Chetia is in the custody of the Government , but with some human rights organizations filing cases against his deportation, the process might be delayed. However, India would keep mounting pressure for his deportation.

Sources also said that Chetia would have to be handed over by observing all legal formalities as the Government of Bangladesh has accepted the fact that he in their custody. It was different in the case of other militant leaders like ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa and NDFB chief Ranjan Daimary. Bangladesh Government informally handed over militant leaders like Rajkhowa and Daimary as they were officially not in custody of Bangladesh, sources pointed out.