DIMAPUR, APRIL 25 (MExN): Vehicles bound for Nagaland were stranded for almost the entire day on April 25 as angry protestors stopped and prevented vehicles from proceeding at a place falling under Jorhat district in Assam. The protest was in retaliation over an assault which occurred a few days back at a tea garden falling along the Assam-Nagaland border.
According to one of the stranded passengers, the protestors blockaded the highway at Selleng Kaliapani which falls under Jorhat. Most of the vehicles were bound for Mokokchung, Longleng and Mon. The vehicles were let through only in the evening at around 5:00 pm, the passenger said.
Tension simmered in the Jorhat-Mokokchung portion of the Assam-Nagaland border after tea garden workers were reportedly assaulted by unidentified miscreants a few days back, which went unreported. It was alleged that Nagas were behind the assault leading to the protest in a place already troubled by frequent border disputes.
The protestors had reportedly warned the Nagaland bound passengers the protest will continue until and unless the injured tea garden workers are compensated. They were let through only after frantic conversations over the phone between government officials on both sides of the border, it was reported. No specific information over the incident could be had as district administration officials could not be reached for comment. Superintendent of Police, Jorhat when contacted only said that the protest was the result of an assault on tea garden workers about four days back.
One of the passengers, who unwarily got caught in the protest expressed displeasure over what was termed as lackadaisical response of Nagaland government officials on the matter. The passenger said that not a single official turned up at the protest venue to plead for the case of the stranded passengers. The place is not far from Mokokchung district headquarters, the passenger said.
