Dimapur, Nov 30 (MExN): According to the NSCN-K unless a “major war” is found between Assam and Nagaland the boundary dispute issue between the two ‘could’ never be solved.
Kilonser AZ Jami took cognizance of the forming of Local Commission for Boundaries by the Supreme Court of India and asserted in a statement that the commission has a ‘lot to do’ in this respect. “In this situation, the Naga people will see with watchful eyes what will be the capability of the present Nagaland state government and other Naga overground leaders. It is opined that unless and until a major war is fought between Assam and Nagaland, the boundary issue could not be resolved so easily” Jami stated.
According to the NSCN-K more than 1000 square kilometers of Nagas’ land in the plains sector bordering Assam have already been encroached upon by Assam. The Assam government “brought refugees from different states of India and also from Bangladesh and made them settle along the Assam-Nagaland border for creating a buffer zone between the two states”. Then police and paramilitary forces backed by the new settlers were brought in even while the Nagaland state government remained lukewarm. “The resultant affect was that all the fertile and plain areas belonging to Nagas have been occupied by immigrants or refugees”. Jami also held that former Nagaland Chief Ministers and Chief Secretaries “who did not know the land of the Nagas” sold out the lands to Assam, the best example of which is the 1972 agreement by which disputed areas were kept in ‘Assam’s control’. Under this, reserved forests went under Assam Forest department and later claimed it. “Now who is to be blamed” Jami queried.
