Naga leader Isak Chisi Swu passes away in Delhi

New Delhi: Isak Chisi Swu, co-founder of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM), died here on Tuesday.

Swu, who along with Thuingaleng Muivah headed the NSCN-IM, died at the Fortis Hospital here at 12.40 pm, one of his close associates told IANS.

He was in his 80s. Swu was admitted to the Fortis Hospital in south Delhi on July 5 last year following "severe kidney ailments and urinary tract infection".

He was undergoing treatment at the prestigious for a “combination of illnesses.”

Swu also suffered from “pre-existing diabetes and kidney ailment”.

Swu, who along with Thuingaleng Muivah and S S Khaplang, raised the banner of sovereignty for Greater Nagalim outside of India. This happened on January 31, 1980, after they opposed the Naga faction of Naga National Council for entering into an understanding with the Indian government.

Negotiations between Indian and Naga leaders have been going on since a ceasefire was signed in 1997, without a solution in sight, but since then several factions have emerged.