The government in India's northeastern state of Nagaland Wednesday accused a tribal rebel group of violating a four-year ceasefire agreement by indulging in large-scale extortion.
Nagaland chief minister S.C. Jamir said the outlawed National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) had been carrying out "large-scale extortion" across the state.
"We have reports from all areas about forcible collection of money and this is a definite violation of the ceasefire ground rules", the chief minister told AFP in the Nagaland state capital, Kohima.
"Demand notes were being received by businessmen, individuals, government departments, and others."
The faction of the NSCN involved in the alleged extortion entered into a ceasefire with the federal government in August 1997, aimed at ending 54 years of violent insurrection.
The NSCN is fighting for an independent tribal homeland in Nagaland.
"Extortion is going on unabated and this is a matter of very serious concern although the NSCN says they are collecting tax or just voluntary contributions," said General (Retd) Ramesh Kulkarni, chairman of the Ceasefire Monitoring Group -- KOHIMA, India (AFP)
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