GUWAHATI, October 12 (TNN): Assam has asked Nagaland government to withdraw two platoons of Nagaland Armed Police from the border town of Merapani in Golaghat district in the state, which has generated mass fear and strong protests among locals. The two platoons were requisitioned by the neutral force, CRPF, on August 16 to ease tension over some local issues at Merapani. After the problem was settled, the CRPF asked both states to withdraw their men by September 12. While Assam Police stuck to the deadline, Nagaland has not withdrawn its men from the area inside the state’s territory, which has fuelled fears among locals that this could be yet another ploy by the neighbouring state to encroach on state’s land. State home secretary GD Tripathi, who visited Merapani on Tuesday, told TOI, “The situation at Merapani is not tense. The issue is over the two platoons of Nagaland Armed Police and people are living in apprehension that the two squads might stay there permanently.
We have asked Nagaland to withdraw its men and I have been informed that Nagaland DGP has ordered withdrawal of the two platoons from Merapani, but we are yet to get a confirmation”.
The two states, which are engaged in decades-long border dispute, are maintaining a status quo under the supervision of CRPF under directive from the Supreme Court at present. Merapani has been the centre of as many as three bloody clashes in 1968, 1979 and in 1985, which was the worst when over 100 people were killed in firing between Assam and Nagaland Police. At present, a border commission, set up by the apex court, is working on a solution.
The state home secretary said though the dispute is on there, is no report of any fresh encroachment by Nagaland on the state’s land. “The status quo is in force on the border” he added. When asked about the government’s stand on allegations that the CRPF, which is deployed on the disputed border as a neutral force has not been neutral enough, the home secretary said, “When I visited Merapani, the people complained about CRPF as role as a neutral force. I am taking up this matter at the highest level”.
We have asked Nagaland to withdraw its men and I have been informed that Nagaland DGP has ordered withdrawal of the two platoons from Merapani, but we are yet to get a confirmation”.
The two states, which are engaged in decades-long border dispute, are maintaining a status quo under the supervision of CRPF under directive from the Supreme Court at present. Merapani has been the centre of as many as three bloody clashes in 1968, 1979 and in 1985, which was the worst when over 100 people were killed in firing between Assam and Nagaland Police. At present, a border commission, set up by the apex court, is working on a solution.
The state home secretary said though the dispute is on there, is no report of any fresh encroachment by Nagaland on the state’s land. “The status quo is in force on the border” he added. When asked about the government’s stand on allegations that the CRPF, which is deployed on the disputed border as a neutral force has not been neutral enough, the home secretary said, “When I visited Merapani, the people complained about CRPF as role as a neutral force. I am taking up this matter at the highest level”.
