Nagaland MLA Achumbemo Kikon questions neutrality of forces in the Disputed Area Belt as Assam is reported to have 63 border outposts along the Assam–Nagaland boundary.
Share
KOHIMA — Frequent tensions, stalled development works and disputes over land along the Assam–Nagaland border came under sharp focus in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly on Thursday, where the local MLA Achumbemo Kikon alleged that “neutral forces” deployed in the disputed belt were protecting people from the Assam side.
Raising the issue during Question Hour, the NPF legislator from Bhandari questioned the neutrality of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) operating in the Disputed Area Belt (DAB).
Kikon reminded the House that he had raised the issue repeatedly in previous Assembly sessions and that the matter had already been recorded in the official proceedings.
Referring to the 1972 interim agreement between the governments of Nagaland and Assam, Kikon said that Nagaland had withdrawn all its outposts—including Naga Armed Police (NAP) posts and police stations—from the disputed belt as part of maintaining the agreed status quo.
Also read: Paying to serve? Police recruitment fee under NLA scanner
However, he alleged that instead of reducing its presence, Assam had steadily increased it over the years.
Kikon sought to know from the deputy chief minister in charge of Home and Border Affairs Yanthungo Patton how many police stations and outposts currently exist on the Assam side along the disputed belt.
The MLA said that his constituency covers the longest stretch of Assam–Nagaland border, spanning nearly 105 kilometres, and remains highly vulnerable to tensions.
“Almost every day there are border scuffles between the citizens of the two states,” he said, adding that he often had to personally intervene to defuse disputes between communities.
Petrol pump project halted
Citing a recent incident, Kikon said that a petrol pump set up by Naga entrepreneurs near Yampha village in Ralan area had been prevented from operating.
According to him, the petrol pump falls within the jurisdiction of Yampha village and forms part of the Naga homeland as reflected in historical agreements.
However, he alleged that neutral forces sided with people from the Assam and stopped the petrol pump from functioning.
Kikon also raised concerns regarding a government seed farm in the area, stating that the land belongs to Nagaland government but development works there were being disrupted.
He alleged that labourers and tenants—whom he claimed were illegal immigrants—were attempting to occupy land while being protected by neutral forces.
The MLA further questioned whether Nagaland was conducting forest patrols in the disputed areas after alleging that forest guards from Assam were patrolling reserve forest areas in the belt.
According to him, Assam was using forest guards to patrol disputed areas under the protection of neutral forces despite the understanding that police forces from both states should avoid confrontation in the region.
Demand for Nagaland police presence
Kikon reiterated his demand for the establishment of permanent Nagaland Police outposts in Tchunjanphen, Longayim, Mekirang River and Longjung areas.
He said that villagers had submitted representations seeking the retention of India Reserve Battalion (IRB) personnel at Tchunjanphen until a permanent Naga Armed Police outpost is established.
The legislator also mentioned that villagers and the Ralan Area Hoho had earlier assured the government that they would donate 10,000 acres of land once the border issue is resolved.
Additionally, he raised concerns regarding the upcoming Census exercise, stating that geo-tagging of villages sometimes places Naga villages located in disputed areas under Assam despite their recognition by the Nagaland government.
Assam has 63 border outposts
Responding to the queries, Deputy Chief Minister Yanthungo Patton informed the House that before the 1972 interim agreement Nagaland had five police outposts along the disputed areas while Assam had 13.
While Nagaland withdrew all five outposts following the agreement, he said that Assam did not withdraw its posts.
“Till date, the Assam government has established 63 permanent police outposts bordering Assam and Nagaland,” Patton said.
He added that the Nagaland government is examining the establishment of additional police outposts along the border.
According to him, the department is currently studying a proposal to set up eight to nine police outposts in border areas across the state, not confined to Wokha district.
Power supply hampered
Responding to Kikon’s question regarding electricity supply to villages in the disputed belt, Power Minister KG Kenye said that the government is aware that residents in the border areas face serious difficulties and lack many basic amenities.
He replied that the department had twice attempted to extend electricity supply to villages in the area but faced obstacles as the right-of-way (RoW) for transmission lines passes through disputed territory.
Kenye informed the House that electricity currently reaches Sanis through a 132 kV substation, while a 33 kV line extends up to Ralan.
However, extending supply further to inhabited villages remains difficult due to the unresolved boundary dispute.
Despite the challenges, he assured that the department would continue exploring alternative routes to provide electricity to the affected villages.
Plantation planned in disputed belt
Minister for Forest, Environment and Climate Change CL John informed that plantation drives cannot be undertaken in the disputed areas during the dry season.
However, the department has proposed plantation activities in the DAB during May–June this year.
He also said that there are presently no forest guard patrols in the disputed areas as security is being handled by neutral forces, but the department may deploy guards in the future if necessary.
Assembly adjourned
Meanwhile, NLA Speaker Sharingain Longkumer on Thursday adjourned the House till March 26 for reassembling at 9.30 am.
The first phase of the eighth session of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly was held from March 2 to March 12 with breaks in between.