Anaki ‘C’ very much within Nagaland
Morung Express News
Dimapur | July 12
If at all the government of Assam is serious to lifting the economic blockade, it can do so easily by invoking the Essential Commodities Act; unfortunately it is acting all “wishy washy,” an unhappy Nagaland government today lashed out. Further, Assam government is reminded that Anaki ‘C’ village – the scene of the July 5 killing of two laborers – is very much within Nagaland even by the 1925 constitutional boundary set towards Nagaland.
“If Govt. of Assam is serious about lifting this economic blockade it can do so easily by invoking Essential Commodities Act and declare the blockade as illegal and then arrest those violators as per the provision of the Act” Additional Chief secretary and Nagaland Commissioner TN Mannen stated in a release today. But Assam’s government is “wishy washy about invoking such actions which give a strong doubt about the sincerity of Assam to ease the border tensions” Mannen lamented. The Commissioner took note that Assam’s Border Minister had made a declaration that Assam will strengthen the border police outposts and will also open new police stations in places like Sonapur and others.
“Such announcement and the action by the Assam Govt. involving the senior political leader is very provocative and will aggravate the border related clashes between the two neighboring states instead of easing the tension” the government reminded. It added that contrary to Assam, Nagaland government has been appealing for calm and restraint, at the same time to take appropriate action after thorough investigation against those murderers if they are found to be from the Naga Community.
In regard to the July 5 killing of two laborers, Mannen stated that Assam is creating a distorted picture claiming Anaki ‘C’ as being within Assam’s territory. Mannen made clear that the two victims (immigrants) were tenants of Anaki ‘C’. “Therefore, the question of Anaki ‘C’ villagers killing their own tenants does not arise and the claim that the land belonging to Assam is also baseless” he stated.
Evertheless, he informed that a case has been registered at Tuli Police Station and a thorough investigation is going on to ascertain as to how the incident has taken place and who are really been involved.
In this context since the place of occurrence is adjacent to Geleki R/F land it is the responsibility of both the Assam and Nagaland administrations to work closely with each other to find the truth to avoid any suspicion with each other, ACS Mannen stated. He also reminded Assam government of the February 29, 2007 killing of late Alemmongba by Assam police personnel. “There are eyewitnesses to the cold-blooded murder committed by Assam Police because in that Alemmongba’s farm there were three women laborers working on that fateful day. After killing Alemmongba, and when those women raised alarm they were threatened to keep quite unless they are also willing to face the same fate as him. After the cold-blooded murder, Assam Police had run away from the scene” he stated adding that the DC of Mokokchung is in constant touch with DC of Sibsagar and SP Sibsagar “to hand over those Assam Police murderers or at least to arrest them with charge for murder.” Sadly, Assam Police conveniently continues to deny their involvement in the case of Alemmongba’s murder inspite the clear witnesses, Mannen lamented.
Mannen further lamented that Assam is now claiming that the murder and burning of houses that had taken place on July 5 was a “retaliatory vengeance” committed by Anaki ‘C’.
In fact, the place of occurrence is very much within Anaki ‘C’ land and even within the 1925 Constitutional Boundary line towards Nagaland side; immediate land adjacent to this Anaki ‘C’ is Geleki R/F area, which is under dispute between Assam and Nagaland and is covered by Interim Agreement of 1972. “Even Ladaigarh village ‘A’ & ‘B’ are Nagaland recognized villages having Village Council under Nagaland Village Council Act 1972 and has school from Nagaland. Assam is now claiming that the entire Geleki Forest areas and adjacent areas are all Assam land and completely ignoring 1970 Interim Agreement with Govt. of India, Nagaland State and Assam accusing the Nagas of land encroachment with the assistant of underground specially the NSCN (IM) “is absolutely baseless and mischievous” he stated.
He said that the traditional relationship of peaceful co-existence between Ahoms and Nagas is well known; the Nagas even today strongly feel that not all the section of the residents of Assam are interested in such aggressive land-grabbing activities along the border areas except by those who are driven by the greediness for the land. “They are engineering these encroachments to drive away the Nagas from their traditional land” he observed.
“Unless there is a hidden agenda, there is no justification on the part of Assam to say that the entire machinery is helpless to control the agitators especially when a small section namely the AJYCP is the only one still continuing with the economic blockade supported by the Adivasi, Nepalese and the other illegal immigrants. Before the situations go out of control, both Assam and Nagaland sides must restraint instead of indulging in distorted allegations and misleading the people by propagating false information” the Commissioner stated.
.jpg)
