Morung Express News
Mokokchung | December 9
The economic blockade imposed along Mokokchung-Mariani road or NH 702D, which is the second busiest highway in Nagaland, by several Assam based civil society organizations at Mariani under Jorhat district since November 15 has been lifted Wednesday evening.
Mokokchung Deputy Commissioner Limawabang Jamir said that his Jorhat counterpart, Roshni Aparanji Korati telephonically informed him about the news. “Deputy Commissioner Jorhat telephonically confirmed that the blockade is lifted this evening by the enforcers in Mariani,” Jamir said. He also expressed appreciation and gratitude to the people of Tzürangkong range and the citizens of Mokokchung district for “showing maturity and restraint by not taking law into their own hands during these trying times.”
Further authenticating the report, President of Mokokchung Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Tsukti Longkumer also said that the economic blockade has been lifted and that commercial transports would start plying along the route now. He, however, was cautious about the prevailing situation and advised the public to avoid travelling via Mariani for a few days until the situation completely normalizes.
Tension in the border nearly flared earlier today when volunteers from the villages of Tzürangkong range gathered in sizeable numbers at Aosendenyim border village to proceed towards the Assam-Nagaland boundary. However, the situation was brought under control by authorities there.
Tzürangkong Range Naga Youth Front (TRNYF) said that the volunteers assembled in view of “social media reports that the public of Mariani, New Sonowal and Nagajanka will be assembling at New Sonowal” today. TRNYF also claimed that there were confirmed reports that “the public of Assam will march to Aosenden village and destroy the concrete bridge over Tzüsü stream and temporary makeshift camp of NAP personnel as a follow up action on the 72 hours ultimatum given to Assam government by Assam based civil organizations.”
The TRNYF maintained that the public and youth of Tsurangkong assembled at Aosenden village to “prevent the Assam public from entering our land and to stop them from destroying our infrastructure and properties within traditional land of Nagas.”
TRNYF also said that they met the officer in-charge of the Assam Police encamped at the disputed location and told them to vacate the location for peaceful coexistence between the two states.
Claiming that the presence of Assam Police personnel in the location was creating tension and mistrust between the two states, TRNYF stated that “the Naga public will not be responsible for any action if the Assam Police continues to stay in the location.”
Interestingly, the volunteers who assembled at Aosendenyim dispersed after learning that Assam public had instead gathered at Mariani to meet DC and SP of Jorhat. Meanwhile, as a ‘goodwill’ reciprocation to the lifting of economic blockade by the Assam based civil society organization, TRNYF on its part has also lifted the “counter blockade” imposed along the same route as appealed by the district administration.
