NEW DELHI, February 3 (Agencies): Former Intelligence Bureau (IB) director PC Haldar is likely to lead the Central team in the upcoming political dialogues between the Centre and Kuki underground groups in Manipur even as the stage is set for the Central and state Government representatives to begin talks with the United Naga Council (UNC).
The Union Home Ministry has initiated a process to make Mr Haldar an interlocutor and a notitification to this effect is likely to be issued soon.
Sources say the flames over the demand for granting separate statehood are yet to die down whereas the Kuki groups in Manipur have also intensified their demand for creation of a separate state.
The Kuki groups say talks with the Centre in this regard have been on for the past seven years and if their demands are not conceded soon they will intensify their movement. As a formality, appointment of Haldar as the interlocutor would be placed by the Union Home Ministry before the Cabinet Committee on Security.
In all probability, the fifth round of talk with the UNC delegates will begin this month, said the sources.
Pointing out that the UNC in a recent memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister had urged for necessary arrangement to initiate political dialogue within February 17.
The IFP had earlier mentioned that PC Haldar is likely to be lead the talks between the centre and Kuki groups.