Police outposts in all border areas — Patton

Our Correspondent
Wokha, Jan. 28 (EMN): The government of Nagaland is working towards opening police outposts in all border areas, according to Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton, who is also the state’s Home minister.

Speaking as a special guest at the 51st General Conference of Lotha Students’ Union (LSU) on Tuesday, Patton informed that the state government has proposed to establish police outposts at Yimpang and Yanmhon in Wokha district. 

The conference is being hosted by the Lotha Lower Range Students’ Union at Merapani (Maratchu), on the theme: ‘towards greater responsibility’.

However, he reminded, the government of the day needs “the support and cooperation of the people” to ensure that such plans are realised.

Patton, therefore, appealed to the people to come forward ‘when the government approaches them for land’.

“Extend cooperation and support to the government; only then developmental activities will take place,” Patton said.    

Pointing out that Wokha district shares a long inter-state boundary with Assam and that it poses “serious danger” in relation to the influx of illegal immigrants via Merapani, the deputy chief minister encouraged the people not to give shelter to “these illegal immigrants for cheap labour”.

With the implementation of the ILP regime in Dimapur, Patton said, the ‘foothill belt of Wokha’ has been rendered ‘one of the most vulnerable areas’. He, therefore, appealed “to all stakeholders to take cognisance of the situation and refrain from issuing certificates to those illegal immigrants.”

In this regard, he also urged the student body to play a proactive role towards ensuring effective implementation of ILP.

The deputy chief minister also called for unity among the various Naga political groups. To the students, he reminded that a mere degree will not ‘get them anywhere in this present scenario and that they needed to change their mentality completely’.