AKM officials after the submission of the representation to the Deputy Commissioner of Mokokchung.
Mokokchung, May 10 (MExN): The office of the Ao Students’ Conference (AKM) has demanded the Assam Government to restore the signboard allegedly removed by the Assam forest guards from the AKM Reserve forest “on or before May 12.”
“Furthermore, any unprecedented and unwanted situations arise, the Assam Government will be solely held responsible,” the apex student body of the Ao community stated in a representation submitted to the Deputy Commissioner, Mokokchung.
According to a representation appended by AKM President, Nungdokyanger Ao and General Secretary, Nekmi Longkumer, the Assam forest guards first removed the signboard from the reserve forest on February 13, 2020.
The AKM office put up the signboard again but as per recent media reports, the Assam forest officials have removed the signboard again on May 7, it said, terming the removal “an act of high handedness” and hurting the “sentiments of all the Aos particularly the students’ community.”
“It is to be clearly noted that the AKM Reserve forest is donated by Aokum village of Tsurangkong Range under Mokokchung District, Nagaland and that the Ao Students’ Conference never encroach others land till date,” asserted the AKM.
Meanwhile, the AKM objected to “elder brother attitude of the Assam Government towards all the neighbouring states of Northeast India is becoming unbearable.”
“It is to be clear that we are all one under the union of this great nation India and everyone is equal under the constitution,” it added.
According to the AKM, the removal of signboard is a new occurrence happening in ‘just recent years’.
Back then, in 1990s, when it was cleaned and burned for cultivation the Assam Government/ forest guards did not bat an eye and was peacefully allowed to do so, it pointed out.
“In recent times, the forest guards often patrol our jurisdiction and destroy our belongings and harassed the poor cultivators,” it maintained.
Accordingly, the AKM demanded restoration the signboard “on or before May 12.
“The Office in great anticipation awaits, prompt actions so as to maintain peaceful coexistence as neighboring state,” it added.
