Kohima (PTI): Nagaland Government has warned underground groups not to undermine its authority and asked them to stop on-going factional killings as they jeopardised public peace.

Expressing concern over spurt in factional violence, particularly in and around Dimapur, Home Minister Imkong Imchen said the groups should not provoke the government to directly execute its authority in the interest of public peace.

"The government's priority was to provide security and comfort to people, and one cannot afford to undermine the strength of the government. It has authority to prosecute violators (of laws) to protect people from insecurity," Imkong told newsmen yesterday at Dimapur after arriving from Delhi.

He said the underground groups have entered into cease-fire accords with the Centre and though the state government was not party to the arrangement, it was honouring it for the larger interest of peace. "But in the event of incitement of violence by underground groups, the state government will be compelled to act," he said.