Tzurangkong youth org asks Nagaland and Assam govts to clear blockade
Morung Express News
Dimapur/Mokokchung | November 20
The blockading of the Mariani-Mokokchung road (NH 702-D) by agitators at Sonowal township, near Mariani, Jorhat district continued for the fifth day on November 20.
What started as an “Economic blockade” against Mokokchung, Nagaland on November 16, as per official sources, transformed into a total road blockade by the second day as vehicular movement, of any kind towards Mokokchung was halted in Sonowal.
According to a Mokokchung police source, civil organizations in Mariani misconstrued the construction of a temporary COVID-related shelter by the Mokokchung district administration in the border village of Aosenden bordering Nagachari on the Assam side. It happened some 2-3 weeks back.
The Jorhat administration, along with the Assam Police (AP), reacted with confiscating the construction materials, following which a Nagaland Police unit was stationed to safeguard the materials, the official said.
The AP followed it up by setting up a camp in the vicinity. Nevertheless, the official said that things were “cordial” with each side minding their own business and no untoward incident reported.
“All of a sudden, we heard that the AASU (All Assam Students Union) will start an economic blockade from November 16. It turned into a total blockade as other (civil) organizations backed the AASU,” the official said.
Further complicating things, there was a power transmission snag at a power sub-station in Sonowal, which reportedly affected supply to the neighbouring Tzurangkong range or Tzurang valley in Nagaland. Technicians were unable to gain access to the affected side, reportedly, as a result of the ongoing blockade. It prolonged the power failure further irking the residents in the Nagaland side.
While stating that it was a “misunderstanding blown out of proportion” by the media, the official added that the Mokokchung administration is trying to take up the matter with the Jorhat administration.
Downplaying reports that a youth organization tried to cross over into Assam today, the official said that it was, actually, members of the organization meeting the district administration officials/police at the inter-state Tsutapela check-post and at Aosenden village to air their grievances.
Meanwhile, a leader of the Tzurangkong Range Naga Youth Front (TRNYF) told The Morung Express that they were proceeding to the Assam-Nagaland border when they were stopped by the Nagaland Police. According to a leader of the organization, they were asked to turn back.
As a result, they proceeded to Aosenden village where they met the police authorities and retreated after observing the prevailing situation and encouraging the police personnel to safeguard the border.
Images of the volunteers assembling in huge numbers earlier this morning went viral on social media platforms. However, the day passed off without any untoward incidents with a senior administrative officer at the Mokokchung district headquarters maintaining that the situation was under control.
The TRNYF also wrote a memorandum to the state governments of Nagaland and Assam on November 19 demanding lifting of the road blockade “imposed by some unknown miscreants” since November 15, 2020 at New Sonowal, Assam “latest by 6:00 AM of November 20 and to resolve the boundary issue at the earliest possible time.”
“Tzurangkong range under Mokokchung district is our ancestral land,” it claimed, adding that “the traditional boundary cannot be altered in any manner.” The TRNYF also said that the prevailing situation in Aosenden Village “should not be construed as a border issue or dispute between Nagaland and Assam as it has been our land since time immemorial.” The Youth Front maintained that they would not agree to “any decision” detrimental to their “ancestral rights.”
“The Tzurangkong Range Naga Youth Front declares that it will take its own course of action to protect and safeguard the ancestral land of the Nagas and the state government of Assam will be held solely responsible for any untoward incidents that may arise in our fight against the illegal blockade,” the press release said, which was appended by its president Bendangwati and secretary Shiluyongdang.
On being asked about the impact of the blockade, president of the Mokokchung Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Tsukti Longkumer said that they are coordinating with the Mokokchung district administration. He said that there was no shortage of essential commodities and that they are considering alternative routes.
