Correspondent
GUWAHATI, AUGUST 21
ASSAM and Nagaland have agreed to work out a joint mechanism to resolve the border issues between them even as the protests in Assam have continued.
The decision to evolve the joint mechanism was taken at a joint meeting attended by Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, his Nagaland counterpart TR Zeliang and Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju among others.
The meeting was held amid a bandh in Assam called in protest against the violence on the border and alleged atrocities by the Assam Police. The Army on Thursday staged a flag march in Golaghat district where an indefinite curfew has been clamped following Wednesday’s violence that left two protestors dead and 29 others injured, including 15 police personnel.
“Both Assam and Nagaland have agreed to resolve the long-standing border issues by evolving a joint mechanism,” the chief ministers told journalists emerging from the meeting. Rijiju welcomed it saying “the decision to form the joint mechanism is a step in the right direction”.
Gogoi said they had a very cordial and threadbare discussion aimed at resolving the crisis as early as possible.
“It’s not the last meeting that we had today. It’s just the beginning. A good beginning has been made to resolve the long-pending border imbroglio,” he said.
“It is unfortunate that lives have been lost and houses burned down. We are working at various levels to try and restore normalcy and instill confidence in the minds of the affected,” Gogoi added.
Zeliang informed that the Nagaland government had already instituted a probe into the incidents of violence on the border.
Asked about the possible involvement of Naga underground cadres in the incidents, he told journalists that the probe would unravel everything.
“We have been in constant touch with each other and talks are going on at the political as well as administrative level. We will continue with our dialogues to resolve the border issues and to contain the situation,” Zeliang said. He appreciated the efforts taken by Gogoi to bring the situation under control.
Both the chief ministers insisted that the CRPF, deployed on the inter-state border, should be vested with more powers to effectively deal with any exigency.
Rijiju said he was dealing with the issue at personal level saying he has special concerns for the region as he comes from here.
“Let me assure that we won’t leave anything to be desired. We’ll do whatever is required. My appeal to the protestors is that please don’t resort to economic blockades. We have to co-exist and hence, let’s work in harmony.” He said.
The Union Minister asked people to be vigilant so that no anti-social elements could take advantage of the situation and add fuel to fire.
