Morung Express News
Dimapur | September 24
The economic blockade imposed by the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) on Nagaland bound commercial vehicles has been called-off for the time being. It took effect from Saturday morning after a late night marathon meeting between AASU and NSF leaders at Golaghat.
The positive development was brought about after AASU took note of the Nagaland government placing into suspension, the company commander of the concerned 12 (NAP) IR Battalion on September 23, which was involved in the Pholongoni incident at Golaghat on September 15 last. The Morung Express had reported yesterday that an end to the blockade was in sight following this breakthrough development.
“The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) do hereby suspend the ongoing Economic Blockade on Nagaland with immediate effect”, stated a press release from the AASU countersigned by its President Sankar Prasad Ray and General Secretary Tapan Kumar Gogoi. The release however, came with a clear warning that it will be compelled to resume the agitation if all the erring police personnel involved in the unfortunate September 15 incident are not brought to book at the earliest.
The note stated that the AASU has taken note of the Nagaland government “starting the process of disciplinary steps by way of suspension of the Company Commander of the 12th (NAP) IR BN responsible for the 15th Sept. atrocities on the AASU volunteers vide govt. order NO. POL/PF-2/12/2009”.
It also lauded the “immediate condemnation and expression of solidarity and support” extended by the NSF to the cause of the AASU, and the subsequent effort of the Naga students’ body to exert pressure on the Nagaland government for immediate disciplinary action on the erring policemen.
The action of the AASU was also, in part, responding to the appeal of the NSF to lift the blockade in the interest of strengthening people to people relationship between Assam and Nagaland, the note further stated.
It acknowledged the role played by the former presidents of the NSF – Achumbemo Kikon and NSN Lotha – and extended gratitude to “all the organisations and volunteers who have extended support and rendered their valuable services to the cause of bringing justice to the 15th Sept. 2010 incident.”
“The above statements is an outcome of a joint meting between the AASU and the NSF held at Golaghat on the 23 rd Sept., 2010 conducted by Dr. Samujjal Bhattacharya, Advisor AASU and represented from the NSF by President, Mutsikhoyo Yhobu, General Secretary, O. Wati Jamir, and Speaker, K. Andrew, NSF, Achumbemo Kikon, Ex. President, NSF, Imchatoba, Ex. President, NSF and NSN Lotha, Ex. Secretary General, NESO”.
