Naypyidaw, Aug 17: A bloodless coup was carried out by the Myanmar-origin leaders of Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang faction), as they have ousted and replaced their Indian-origin chief Khango Konyak.

Konyak, who was appointed as insurgent group's head in June 2017, following the demise of founder SS Khaplang, has been replaced by the latter's nephew, Yung Aung.

The 45-year-old Aung, reports said, instructed the NSCN(K) to ensure that Konyak and his loyalists are not harmed post their exit from the outfit. The impeached leader has been allowed by the group to take refuge wherever he wants to. The outfit will ensure he is given a safe passage.

A statement issued by the NSCN(K) said Konyak was found guilty of centralising power, taking exclusive decision and implementing one-man policy -- which were in contradiction to the group's founding principle of collective leadership.

Experts claim the ouster of Konyak could emerge as a setback for the Indian government, which was reportedly hopeful of striking a conciliatory note with the insurgent outfit under the leadership of an Indian-origin Naga.

The NSCN(K) is the only among the four Naga militant outfits which has not entered into the peace pact proposed by India. The group had abrogated the ceasefire in 2015, when it attacked a convoy of Indian Army and killed 18 soldiers in Manipur.

Meanwhile, the NSCN(K) had signed a ceasefire agreement with the Myanmar government in 2012. Naypyidaw, however, has warned to abrogate the pact if the group does not ceases its agenda to create a separate state.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 17, 2018 11:25 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).