Assam-Nagaland border row: ‘Blockade of NH-702 is violation of human rights’

Our Correspondent
Aosenden, Nov. 24 (EMN): Advisor for Border Affairs Mhathung Yanthan on Tuesday said that the blockade imposed by Assam-based organisations against Nagaland on NH-702 is a violation of human rights.

Talking to reporters after visiting Tzurangkong range in Mokokchung on Tuesday, the advisor said that the blockade was ‘not just economic but total’.

The advisor, along with Minister for Higher and Technical Education, and Tribal Affairs, Temjen Imna Along, held a meeting with the people of Tzurangkong range in connection with the border row with Assam at Watiyim village in Mokokchung district on Tuesday.

According to Yanthan, they were there to ‘basically understand the ground situation and the opinion of the people affected by this tension’.

He said that the state governments of Assam and Nagaland were ‘trying to resolve this issue and we are hopeful the tension will be resolved at the earliest’.

He also asserted that the border issue is an inherent problem affecting both the states and the flare-up comes up ‘when election is near’.

“Maybe they are people with vested interests who want to capitalise and make it into a political issue and gain political mileage,” he said.

Yanthan reminded that the border issue is sub judice, pending in the Supreme Court.

Along also maintained that the blockade was ‘total’, not just economic. He assured that the state government and the district administration would leave no stone unturned to resolve the matter.

‘We have moved out a bit from our comfort zone because of the blockade but we will not withdraw from our stand. They have to move out, if they move out there will be peace.  If they do not move, then there won’t any peace,’ he said.

He said that Assam’s demand to police as well as district administration personnel ‘from the current position is not acceptable’.

The minister also acknowledged the Tzurangkong Range Naga Youth Front for their ‘pro-active role in rendering solidarity with the people affected by the blockade in the border belt’.

However, he advised them not to escalate the tension but help the government in resolving the tension through dialogue.

The deputy commissioner of Mokokchung, Limawabang Jamir, asserted that Nagaland government has ‘seriously taken up the matter to protect the ancestral land’.

He also informed that the Jorhat DC has yet to respond to his letter.

The superintendent of police, Mokokchung, Vishal, said that there is sufficient police personnel at Tsutapela inter-state check gate.

“Nagaland Police is ready to defend what is ours… our stand is clear, we cannot move,” he said.

It may be mentioned that the district administrations of Mokokchung and Jorhat are scheduled to meet on November 25, in a bid to resolve the matter.

On Tuesday, the ‘economic blockade’ imposed by some Assam-based organisations against Nagaland entered the tenth day.