Centre ought to give "equal importance" to various Naga militant groups while considering any lasting solution to the five-decade-old problem, Nagaland Chief Minister S. C. Jamir said.

"Of late there has been a tendency in certain quarters to give importance only to one faction," Jamir said without naming the group. Maintaining that this would not help resolve the vexed issue and rather aggravate the situation, he said, "Government must recognise the paramount importance that as all Naga tribes, big or small, enjoy equal status, similarly all factions enjoy equal status in the eyes of the Nagas."

The Central leadership should be "sincere and very careful" in dealing with the Naga problem because of its "historical and political complexity," he said and cautioned "one should not be tempted to jump on issues without taking into account all factors."

The Centre and NSCN(I-M) had agreed to extend the ceasefire from August 1 for another year. Condemning the recent killing of general secretary of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang faction) Dally Mungro and two of his associates at Kohima, Mr. Jamir said such killings were "definitely violation of the ceasefire ground rules against the wishes of Naga people."

"It (killing of Mungro) is a setback to the peace process. As leaders championing the cause of the Nagas they should formulate issues for political dialogue through talks and not through the barrel of the gun," Mr. Jamir said without directly referring to NSCN(I-M).