Nagaland-Assam border: Neither side withdrew from their current positions

Our Correspondent
Mokokchung, June 30 (EMN): The tension at Nagaland-Assam border in Vikuto village under Tzurangkong range (the epic centre where the tension started) remains as neither side withdrew from their current positions on Wednesday.

A source from the Nagaland contingent informed that there was an informal meeting with top officials of Assam and Nagaland at a hillock, allegedly occupied by the Assam side dubbed as ‘Temporary Forest Protection Camp’, on Wednesday afternoon.

The source also disclosed that the Assam side was lead by Jorhat DIG, IGP, ADC and Border Magistrate while Nagaland was led by ADC Mangkolemba, SDO (C) Mangkolemba, Border Magistrate Tzurangkong, Additional SP Mokokchung and Longtho Police Station OC and second OC Mangkolemba.

“We officially went to observe the situation and prevent the situation from escalating; it was just a coincidence that we met our counterpart at the epic centre, no official talks were held,” the source disclosed.

Meanwhile, a reliable source disclosed that the DC-level video conference between Mokokchung and Jorhat was held on Wednesday and the meeting might take place very soon to de-escalate the tense situation.

Shiluyungdang, General Secretary Tzurangkong Range Naga Youth Front (TRNYF), said that Assam Police personnel arrived at the hillock at 4 am on Tuesday on allegations of development activities at Vikuto village and upon noticing the situation, the Nagaland IRB personnel reached the spot and later joined by Border Magistrate Tzurangkong and police officials.

He added TRNYF members were mobilised after receiving the information but didn’t intervene as advised by the Nagaland official present there.

Meanwhile, TNYF issued a press release stating that the people in Tzürangkong Range of Mokokchung district have been at the receiving end of the border disputes between Nagaland and Assam that has been there since the establishment of the state.

It claimed that people from Assam had been encroaching into their ancestral land by starting tea gardens, farms and developmental activities ever since the establishment of the DAB along the border.

While acknowledging the setting up of the Tsutapela check post, the youth front expressed disappointment over the government’s lackadaisical attitude towards handling border issues, citing the incident at Aosenden village in 2020 and at Vikuto village on two occasions this year.  

It appealed to the state government to set up border outposts and appoint village guard in all volatile areas to avoid encroachment.