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Dimapur, July 1 (EMN): The United Naga Tribes Association on Border Area (Untaba) has strongly condemned the alleged ‘unilateral intrusion’ of the Assam government inside the Naga lands and establishing camps for its armed police and forest personnel.
“The present imbroglio at Vikuto village under Tsurangkong range is a deliberate attempt by the government of Assam to encroach and allow more settlements for the illegal immigrants in the disputed area belts,” claimed Untaba chairman, Hukavi T Yeputhomi, and the general secretary, Imsumongba Pongen.
Untaba has termed the recent incident as a ‘systematic approach’ adopted by the government of Assam over the years to occupy large tracts of Naga lands in the border areas.
It claimed that Tsurangkong range or Dissoi, Dissoi valley and Tiru Reserve Forests fall under the demarcated ‘Sector F’ under the ‘Disputed Area Belt’ (DAB) as per the ‘Interim Agreement of 1972’ which was reaffirmed in the ‘Interim Agreement of 1979’.
Despite various interim agreements and periodic meetings between the two states, Untaba has accused the government of Assam of unilaterally engaging itself in establishing new settlements all along the border lines which propelled the Merapani War in 1984 among other incidents.
Untaba reminded that as long as the ‘Civil Suit No. 2 of 1988’ lies in the Supreme Court for litigation for boundary issues between the two states, the border issue is sub-judice and therefore neither the states have the authority to involve itself to alter the present status quo in any manner.
The Untaba also urged the Nagaland government, as a ‘Defendant,’ to immediately adopt necessary steps against the government of Assam in the court of Law.
It also urged the state government to immediately initiate chief ministerial-level talks and review all the interim agreements.
Untaba further affirmed that the historical boundary between Assam and Nagaland is ‘Dhodhar Ali’ that runs along from Golaghat to Tizit sector, on which the government of Assam has presently constructed roads named Dhodhar Ali Road.
“Until and unless this historical fact is considered as an inter-state boundary line, the Naga people will go on pursuing the matter persistently,” Untaba affirmed.