DIMAPUR, JAN 14 (MExN): Pressing its case on the Assam-Nagaland border row, the Lotha Students’ Union today heightened its campaign for the Government to initiate stronger measures to safeguard the lives and property of Naga villagers residing in and around Liphayan Village, which falls under the Disputed Area Belt. Talking to reporters, LSU President K Nzanthung Yanthan said not enough security cover is being provided for Nagas in the area. The post commander of ‘F’ Company of the 7th NAP has been accused of not being in station “most of the time” year round at the Police facility situated at Liphayan, also known as Sosoruju after a stream there. The post commander returned to his place of posting only the day before yesterday after a gap of three months, LSU leaders said and added that in his absence the Deputy Commandant of the Police battalion had to rush from Bhandari to the area.
A jawan of the NAP has also been accused of cocking his gun menacingly, in the presence of his higher-ups, when students came to meet Police officials to discuss the border tension. The LSU has sought the termination of services of the post commander, a DSP, and of the jawan. It also wants deployment of the full strength of the company.
Local MLA ET Ezung’s silence on the issue has been termed as neglect by the student body. “He’s not fit to be an MLA,” a student leader said. Since the representative’s voice on the border issue is not heard in the floor of the Assembly, the students said they are bringing the attention of the government directly.
The DC, also, has not been spared. The Liphayan Village Council is reported to have made an appeal to the Government through the DC of Wokha District on November 24 last to intervene in the matter. However, the head of administration of the district responded to the call only yesterday when he visited the village and also met with the CRPF post commander of the area, Yanthan said in the presence of NSF Auditor General, Charles Lotha, DNSU Finance Secretary, Zubenthung Lotha, and other student leaders. Charles has been with the LSU since it set up camp at Liphayan.
After Umriaghat Border Magistrate, Peter Lotha, who is also SDO (C) of Ralan, withdrew his signature from a document allegedly ‘manipulated’ by Assam officials and which said his consent was given for construction of the controversial “multi-crore irrigation project”, the onus now falls on Brijender Singh, the CRPF Commander stationed at Liphayan in the occurrence of any eventuality that may arise if and when the water pump, which draws water from the Doyang, comes under further construction or renovation, or if it is inaugurated. Peter has clearly stated that the construction of the project is illegal as it does not contain his consent. While the students are not opposed to developmental activities, it wants “proper channels” for such development to occur.
Student leaders also said it had come to their knowledge that the 32 villages on the ‘Assam side’, mostly of illegal immigrants, had signed a secret pact which says that in the event of the water pump being demolished, they would chase out residents of the 10 Naga villages situated in the vicinity.
Charles, the NSF official, said they wished for people to people dialogue and also for the Supreme Court-instituted Local Commission to look into the boundary issue to visit the areas of contention to understand the ground realities.
Vote-bank politics is also said to be involved. On December 17 last, it is reported that 127 vehicles, under the banner of the AASU, came to the Naga villages from Golaghat with slogans that read, ‘Assam Government Zindabad’, ‘Naga hatao’ and ‘Go back NSCN.’
They are then said to have held a meeting at the site of the water pump, under the sponsorship of their local MLA who represents the 40 Bhandari A/C. And on January 11, AASU members are said to have attempted to put up flags in a bid to demarcate the boundary. However, their attempts were foiled as LSU members and volunteers rushed to the spot and patrolled the area till Yampha.
On provocation, the LSU was compelled to take action, its President, Nzanthung, said and added that until the issue is settled amicably, “we will not sleep.”
