DIMAPUR/JORHAT, MAY 26 (MExN): The Ao Senden, in reaction to frequent tension, has decided to impose a road blockade on the Mariani and Amguri roads with effect from May 28 from 6:00 AM until “a solution has been reached” to the current border issue. This was stated in a press release from its President, Dr. Sangyu Yaden and General Secretary, Tsupong Longchar.
The Ao apex body has also condemned the incidents of May 24 wherein Mariani MLA Rupjyoti Kurmi was injured alongside others and vehicles destroyed. The Ao Senden has demanded “befitting punishment” for the culprits and compensation for the loss of property.
Moreover, it has requested the State government for the “creation of foothills from Dimapur to Mokokchung and also to set up Village Guards in the border areas.” Appealing to citizens to extend support to the Senden, it has stated that the road blockade will remain till all its demands have been fulfilled.
In a separate note (full text on page 5), the Deputy Commissioner of Mokokchung, Murohu Chotso, has clarified that the land that has created tension between Assam and Nagaland is “undisputed” and traditionally belongs to Saringyim Village within the State of Nagaland bordering the Jorhat district of Assam.
The note explained that 64 Acres of Saringyim Village had been given on lease to Naganijan Tea Estate based on terms and conditions. “However, the said tea estate labourers had cleared the jungles for expansion of the tea estate or for cultivation purpose in February 2012 and also in April 2013 which is well beyond the leased land and falling under the fallow land of Saringyim Village,” stated the release. This was highlighted in the DC’s level Border meeting held at Jorhat on May 6, 2013.
Despite this, two people from Assam, Ranjit Nayak and Atul Kurmi, were caught red handed destroying the fields when they were destroying these fields, and handed over to the Longchem Police Station on May 23. Through the intervention of the Border Peace Committee, the district administration released the two without condition on the same day, and sent back to Mariani.
The DC has expressed shock that despite this gesture, some Adivasi activists had blocked the Mokokchung-Mariani road and harassed innocent travelers, beating up three passengers and damaging three vehicles “without any reason”.
Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister of Assam, Nilamani Sen Deka on Saturday visited the trouble-torn Mariani and Naginijan areas along the Assam-Nagaland border in Jorhat district. Deka took stock of the prevailing situation there and promised to take proper steps for solving the border dispute. “I will convey all the information to the chief minister to take a proper step on the issue,” Deka stated.
Border areas development minister of Assam, Siddeque Ahmed, is also scheduled to visit the bordering areas of the chief minister’s home district on Sunday to take stock of the situation.
On the other hand, the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad and the All Assam Tea Tribes Students Association took up protest programmes at Mariani on Saturday. AJYCP activists burnt effigies of Gogoi in front of the Mariani police station and raised slogans against the government for its failure to “protect the land and people of the state”.
(With inputs from TNN)
