DIMAPUR, MAY 28 (MExN): The Central Nagaland Tribal Council (CNTC) has expressed pain over what it described as an “act of terrorism” meted out by the All Nagaland Tea Tribes Students Association upon Naga travelers at Mariani, Assam on May 24. In this regard, it called for chief ministerial level talks to instate “tangible measures”.
The CNTC informed that “from the facts on record, it is ascertained that two adivasis encroached upon the land of Naga village (Saring Nokpu) and destroyed the standing crops.” It added that as a result, the two miscreants were “arrested and handed over to the competent authority.” The CNTC expressed “strong doubt” about the motive of the AATTSA and MLA, Roop Jyoti Kurmi “in trying to break the age old relationship of the Assamese and the Nagas for gaining political mileage.” It called upon the government of Assam and the “indigenous Assamese brothers and sisters” to take note of the plight of the Nagas “in the hands of those who always try to create problems to abrogate the peaceful co existence between the Assamese and the Nagas from time immemorial.”
A press note appended by the President of the CNTC, Ntsemo Ngullie and its General Secretary, Imtinochet, called upon the Government of Assam, the All Assam Students Union and indigenous Assamese civil societies to check any group or association “trying to strain the relationship between the two neighbors for personal vendetta.”
It further appealed for the Chief Minister of Assam to take stern action against the MLA, Roop Jyoti Kurmi, who it alleged had “masterminded” the incident. It called upon the CM of Assam to ensure that no travelers crossing Assam be allowed to suffer anymore.
The CNTC also stated that it is saddened to see that the Chief Minister of Nagaland and his colleagues remain “silent spectators” when the Naga people are facing “untold hardships and sufferings daily in Assam.” It called for a chief ministerial level talk on the issue and for “tangible measures.” It further reiterated its demand for the construction of a foothill road and asserted that leaders should not take the patience of people as their weakness.
