Kohima, December 16: Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today said unless the Naga political problem was resolved, the violence, directly or indirectly linked to it, would continue.

However, the Government was trying its level best to enforce law of the land and restore peace and normalcy in the State, the Chief Minister said while replying to a short notice discussion on the law and order situation, in the Assembly.

He urged the Centre to resolve the Naga problem at the earliest and called upon the Opposition Congress in the House to exert pressure on the UPA Government to seriously ponder over the urgency of settling the Naga conflict "respecting the will of the Naga people".

Clarifying the steps taken by the Government to curb the crimes and arrest culprits involved in the assassination of former Nagaland DGP Hesso Mao and the attempt on the life of journalist Xavier Ruta in November last, the Chief Minister admitted that there were lapses on the part of the enforcing agencies in certain cases as the existing ground rules of cease-fire restricted the Government from taking action against underground groups.

Rio told the house that he had already conveyed to the Centre about the needs of certain amendments to the ground rules for its effective implementation.

Rio also disclosed that while he was in New Delhi recently, a member of his security set-up deserted the Chief Minister's residence with service weapon and some cash, but the person was arrested later on.

The Chief Minister informed the house that the deserter took away some cash from another policeman.

Terming the incident as ��a lesson for all concerned'', Rio urged all members who were under security cover, to be careful and cited how former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her own body guards.