Border Issue: Nagaland govt urged to act

While the Nagaland government chooses to play the role of spectator, the Frontal Integrated Ranges of Meranger & Sensolikum (FIRMS) together with the Nagaland Tribes Council, Central Nagaland Tribes Council and the Naga Council Dimapur has firmed up its stance on the prevailing border dispute between Nagaland and Assam. Three months on, since the unrest along the Dimapur-Karbi-Anglong border began, the Nagaland government is yet to take an official stand.

The FIRMS took to the streets on May 9 urging the Nagaland government to act. FIRMS members publicly rallied in Dimapur on Friday and submitted two separate representations to the Commissioner, Nagaland and the chairman of the Nagaland Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

The representation to the Commissioner contained three points on which the FIRMS urged the Nagaland government to act: Taking up the border dispute at the highest level, removal of two Assam Police camps “set up within the Nagaland boundary,” arresting the culprits responsible for the death of Supongtemjen Imchen and compensation to the bereaved family. It gave the Government 30 days to act on the latter two points.

It further stated that the Lengri River demarcating the boundary between Karbi-Anglong autonomous district of Assam and Dimapur district of Nagaland is undisputed, while contending that Dikoi village is recognised by the Nagaland government but is being disputed by the Assam Forest department. Besides promulgating section 144 CrPC, the Nagaland government has not viewed the matter seriously, it added.

In the representation to the NHRC, the FIRMS demanded setting up of a committee to probe the death of Supongtemjen Imchen, who was allegedly killed by the Assam Police on April 30. According to the representation, the death occurred “at Meranger village jurisdiction of Nagaland.” It further urged that the Assam Police personnel complicit to the fatality be suitably punished. An FIR lodged at West Police Station, Dimapur has borne no tangible result thus far, it added.

Revoking the 1972 agreement between Assam and Nagaland and stationing of mutual forces under joint control of the two states were points raised by speakers who addressed the rally.