Aizawl, June 25: Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga today said the response so far he has received from the insurgent groups in the North East including some groups from Manipur to the peace process has been positive. Addressing a press conference here, Zoramthanga said that he had been trying to contact as many groups as he could and the response he had so far got was positive. He hoped that the splinter groups of the insurgent outfits would also take part in the peace process. On the issue of gun-running and drug trafficking in the state, he said the state government was taking all steps to check them. He denied Tripura chief minister Manik Sarkar's allegations that some Tripura insurgent groups were having sanctuary inside Mizoram.

''Some insurgents might have crossed over to Mizoram through the thick jungles, but I am sure that there is not a single rebel camp inside the state'', he said.

On the issue of repatriation of Reangs/Brus from refugee camps in Tripura, the Mizoram chief minister said that his government was willing to take back those Brus who were bonafide residents of Mizoram.

However, he said, ''We have firmly told the Centre that the armed group of the brus must come overground before repatriation process begins''.

On the Dimasa-Hmar clashes in north Cachar hills of Assam, he said that he had personally taken up the matter with the union home ministry and Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi urging them to take special attention to the problem.

Bureau Report