Kohima, Oct 16 (IANS) Amidst growing tension, Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister Y. Patton, accompanied by senior officials, visited two villages under the disputed Tuli area of Mokokchung district and assured the villagers to resolve the ongoing border row with neighbouring Assam, officials said on Wednesday.
Patton, who also holds the portfolio for Home and Border Affairs, and the officials accompanying him, on Tuesday inspected key areas of concern, including the Assam Police Commando Battalion camp at Septsuyong Lu in Kangtsung Village and Wameken Yimsen village.
A senior official said that the visit aimed to assess the situation on the ground and engage with local stakeholders amid growing tensions in the border area.
During discussions with the villagers and representatives of ‘Ao Senden’ (Ao tribal community’s apex body), Patton, also the BJP legislature party leader in Nagaland, highlighted that the Nagaland cabinet had held a meeting on October 9 to deliberate on the matter, emphasising the government’s serious approach to resolving the inter-state border dispute. He informed the villagers that letters had been sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to address the issue and that the state cabinet would once again discuss the matter soon.
Patton also urged the villagers not to sell their land to non-indigenous people, stressing the importance of preserving local land ownership in the region.
During the visit, Patton was accompanied by Advisor for Fisheries and Aquatic Resources A Pangjung Jamir, Home Secretary Vyasan R., Director General of Police Rupin Sharma. and the officials of district administration.
The ‘Ao Senden’ had earlier requested Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio for urgent intervention regarding the reported construction of an Assam Police Commando Battalion camp at Septsuyong Lu.
In their letter, the Ao Senden said that since January 2022, various organisations had sought intervention from the state government on multiple occasions through representations, concerning the alleged encroachments by Assam Police on Kangtsung village’s traditional land.
Despite these efforts, the Ao Senden claimed that no response or action had been taken by the Nagaland government. Assam shares a 512-km-long border with Nagaland and several patches of the inter-state border are disputed and the two states are now in parley to resolve the dispute.
After a series of top-level meetings, the Assam and Nagaland governments in 2021 withdrew their respective forces from the disputed sites. Though the decades-old Nagaland and Assam border dispute cases have been pending in the Supreme Court for many years, the Chief Ministers of the two states held several meetings and are trying to settle the issues out of court. Many people have been killed, most of them on the Assam side, in the attacks by armed attackers from Nagaland in different incidents in 1979, 1985, 2007, and 2014.
--IANS
sc/vd
You may also like
Aviation minister on flight bomb hoaxes: One minor arrested, others responsible to be duly prosecuted
"Our good work is our response to critics": Karnataka Deputy CM Shivakumar
Sophie Wessex just wore 'elegant' Monica Vinader bracelet and it makes an 'excellent gift'
Maya Jama slams rumours about Stormzy split as he moves on with Victoria Monet
Rise in MSP of Rabi crops to make farmers' lives easier: PM Modi
UP: 2 Bajrang Dal leaders booked over 'derogatory' remarks on Prophet Mohammed
17-year-old held over bomb threats to 19 flights in 3 days
Capital India Finance sells housing finance subsidiary to firm backed by former HDFC employees for Rs 267 crore
MAFS star takes aim at 'cheating ex groom' in cryptic post about 'weak men'
PM Modi to join Abhidhamma Divas & Pali recognition celebrations on Oct 17
Chhattisgarh to begin paddy procurement from Nov 14, launches measures to curb illegal liquor sales
Nagaland cabinet to soon meet PM, Shah, Himanta to resolve border dispute with Assam: Dy CM
Seven of a family killed as car falls into canal in Telangana
Meghan Markle's missing engagement ring more significant than Kate's because...
CM sitting here, says Fadnavis at Mahayuti presser, asks MVA to declare its leader
Offbeat: Inspiring Story of Retired-SBI-Employee Cracking NEET at 64 to Achieve His Dream of Doctor!
Priyanka Chopra To Launch Global Makeup Brand 'Max Factor' In India
The myth of Lawrence Bishnoi: Why Canadian police is wrong
Festive Offer Alert: BMW G 310 R and G 310 GS unveiled with special benefits
King Charles' charity gets major rebrand to be 'relevant to young people'