Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, APRIL 28
THE Speaker of Nagaland Legislative Assembly, Chotisuh Sazo on Monday threw his weight behind the besieged villagers of Dikoi – who have recently found themselves at the wrong end of the inter-border dispute between Nagaland and Assam – and asked the “authorities concerned’ to ensure justice to the villagers.
This call from the Speaker was made at a public meeting held at Dikoi village on Monday morning, which was also attended by the top officials of Dimapur police and administration. General Secretary of Dikoi Village Council, Vesekho Cho-o told Eastern Mirror that the Speaker had reminded the “authorities concerned” that Dikoi village was already accorded with government recognition.
Sazo, according to the DVC who also issued a press statement on the same, “expressed concern as to why eviction notice was issued to the inhabitants (of Dikoi) whereas other neighboring villages (recognized or unrecognized) were left alone.”
The Speaker has been reported as saying that “this unbalance must be sorted out.” Dikoi village is bordered by the Rangapahar military cantonment on the eastern side, Aoyimkum in north, Sangtamtilla in south and Assam in the western edge and has a population of around 400-500.
Since March 21 last, the villagers have been fired upon by the Assam police on at least six occasions. On latest count, three people have sustained bullet injuries from the incidents.
Repeated calls made by this newspaper to the Speaker of Nagaland Legislative Assembly, Chotisuh Sazo on Monday evening for confirmation and further information, went unanswered.
It is worth mentioning that a National newspaper on Monday had reported that “hundreds of armed Naga hoodlums were reportedly waiting at Dimapur district in Nagaland on Sunday to enter Assam’s Karbi Anglong district.”
The report filed from Jorhat in Assam had quoted a police official as saying, “Over 300 Naga men are waiting at Dimapur town near the Assam Nagaland border to sneak into Assam. They are equipped with arms and ammunition and we believe they are being assisted by some Naga militants active in Dimapur district of Nagaland.”
The report also quoted the Deputy Inspector General of Police (northern range) Pradip Saloi as saying that Nagas had been trying to encroach on land in Assam’s Karbi Anglong over the past few weeks and police from both sides were taking measures to foil their attempts.
