Dimapur, Aug.12 (EMN): The office of the Land Owners’ Union, Doyang Hydro-Electric Project (DHEP), North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) Ltd. Doyang, Wokha has condemned the “random” arrest of the head of Plant, DHEP, NEEPCO, PB Das by Assam police led by DSP Golaghat, Partha Saikia, at the project site on Aug. 4.
A press release from the Land Owners’ Union media cell convener, Yanchumrhumo W Jami, alleged that the Assam police intruded into the land of Nagaland to arrest PB Das without arrest warrant and proper communication with the counterpart district since it was an inter-state issue.
Also while condemning the statement of Mrinal Saikia, MLA of Khumtai assembly constituency, Assam who alleged that the Doyang Hydro Electric Project management has released water from Doyang dam without notifying either Golaghat administration nor Assam Government on July 27, the union alleged that the statement was totally baseless, unexpected, and ridiculous. The union clarified that the DHEP, NEEPCO Ltd. had informed the District Disaster Management
Authority of Golaghat, and it was in touch with the administration since July 21 about the water level of Doyang dam, the union maintained.
“It is fact that on 26th of July 2018, the management passed a circular informing the District Management Authority, Golaghat, Assam for the release of water,” the press release stated.
The union said ‘the unprecedented increase in water level was due to the incessant rainfall and it was beyond the control of the head of Plant.’
‘PB Das was picked by Assam police on Aug. 4 at the project area but was stopped at Bhandari check gate in Wokha by the Nagaland Police as Assam police failed to produce any relevant documents authorising them to take PB Das into their custody,’ it stated. The union after examining the sequence of the issue concluded that the action of Partha Saikia and his team attempted kidnap but was foiled by the Nagaland Police as per the law of the land.
The union on behalf of the 17 affected villages of Doyang Hydro Electric Project, Wokha expressed appreciation to the Government of Nagaland, Home department and Wokha District Administration, including the SP of Wokha, ADC Bhandari, and SDPO Bhandari for their active intervention and prompt action against the intruders.
