Morung Express News
Dimapur | September 18
It is now the turn for the students in Assam. The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) has enforced an economic blockade on two roads, including National Highway 39, leading to Nagaland from Saturday in protest against Wednesday’s incident of assault on students in Golaghat district of Assam by the Nagaland Police. However, there is no clarity on the number of days to enforce the blockade.
The AASU as well as various other organizations in Assam had taken strong note of this incident and demanded the Nagaland Government immediately take action against the guilty cops. However, as action was not taken even after three days, the AASU resorted to the economic blockade on Saturday.
“We have nothing against Nagaland or its people. We had demanded action against the guilty Naga policemen. How on earth they got the courage to beat our students on our own soil,” AASU president Sankar Prasad Roy told Newmai News Network today.
“We will not tolerate such action and give befitting reply to them,” he said.
The AASU warned that the blockade would be enforced for an indefinite period if those guilty were not punished. “If action is not taken, the results will be dangerous,” Roy warned. A probe into the incident has been already ordered by the Assam Government.
General Secretary of the powerful AASU, Taban Kumar Gogoi, speaking over phone from Guwahati Saturday evening told the Morung Express that the blockade began from 3:00 pm today. AASU activists have blocked three crucial roads in Golaghat and Jorhat districts, linking Nagaland, Gogoi said. The blockade was affected on Nagaland bound commercial vehicles on the Mariani-Mokokchung road under Jorhat, Merapani-Wokha road and the all important NH-39 linking Dimapur, a major stretch of which falls under Golaghat district.
The AASU general secretary though added that private vehicles and those carrying essential medical supplies will be allowed to ply. Gogoi further said that private vehicles carrying commercial goods will also not be allowed to cross into Nagaland. Gogoi asserted that the AASU has no ill will against the people of Nagaland rather they are making their displeasure known, over the apathetic attitude of the authorities of both Assam and Nagaland, towards the September 15 incident.
“We’ve given enough time to both governments (Assam and Nagaland) but they did not listen”. Until and unless the erring Naga policemen are brought to justice, AASU will be forced to continue with the blockade, Gogoi aired. The blockade comes in the backdrop of the Nagaland Home Minister issuing a statement three days after the incident. Sources from police headquarters said that a full report will be expected only after ten days.
(With inputs from Newmai News Network)
