Dimapur, November 20 (NNN): The security forces seem to be on full combat-alert as the six-month duration of cease-fire between the government of India and the NSCN-IM is nearing its end.

The current term ends on January 31, 2006.While the NSCN-IM has been threatening to break its cease-fire with India if the ongoing dialogues are going to be further prolonged, the security forces, on the other hand, have signaled that they are ready for combat as indicated by GOC (Nagaland) Major General SS Kumar.

The Major General said yesterday in Nagaland that the security forces are prepared to face any eventuality while referring to the threat of NSCN-IM supremo Th Muivah that it will pull out of the current cease-fire and the cadres will go back to the jungles to restart the armed conflict.

On November 3, NSCN-IM general secretary Th Muivah in an exclusive interview with the BBC, had expressed his frustration by threatening to end the current cease-fire.

According to reports carried in today�s edition of Dimapur based dailies, the GOC also came down heavily on the NSCN factions.

In an obvious reference to the two warring factions, particularly in the wake of heightened tension prevailing in parts of Nagaland due to clashes between the two factions, IGAR (North) and GOC Nagaland, Maj Gen SS Kumar yesterday warned that the security forces would not tolerate any situation that endangers the common public and that security forces would not hesitate to arrest or engage in combat against any person threatening the safety of the ordinary citizen.

�While we have exercised utmost restraint in using force against the warring factions, we will not hesitate to take action against those threatening the safety of the public by engaging in combat in public places�, the General said at a t�te-�-t�te after inaugurating the new building of St.

Mary�s School at Kezoma in Nagaland on Saturday.

He further warned the factions against frequenting or residing in civilian-populated places.

Expressing his dismay over the recent clashes between the warring factions in populated areas, the Major General said, �I�ve always been restraining my jawans against engaging with them but they are trained soldiers and their patience is running out.

If this goes on, we may have to confront them for the safety of the common people�.

He also insisted that the security forces in the state have been strictly adhering to the ceasefire ground rules.

Meanwhile, the Major General also hinted that the military�s intelligence network has found some leads with regard to the twin blasts in Dimapur last year.

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