From Sandeep Sharma
GUWAHATI: The Assam and Nagaland chief secretaries on Saturday signed an agreement to de-escalate the tension along the Assam-Nagaland border in two locations of Dissoi Valley Reserve Forest in Mariani, Jorhat district and Tsurankong Valley for Nagaland.
Assam was represented by chief secretary Jishnu Baruah while his counterpart J Alam represented Nagaland.
Assam education minister Ranoj Pegu, who was also present in the meeting told newspersons here that the agreement was signed in his presence and both sides had agreed that in order to maintain peace and tranquillity in the area known as Jankhona Nallah or Nagajanka in Mariani revenue circle, Jorhat district, Assam and around Ao Senden village and Vikuto village in Mokokchung district of Nagaland, armed police forces of both Assam and Nagaland would withdraw to their base camps within 24 hours.
“Effective steps are needed to diffuse the stand-off between the security forces of Nagaland and Assam,” he said.
“In a major breakthrough towards de-escalating tensions at Assam-Nagaland border, the two Chief Secretaries have arrived at an understanding to immediately withdraw states’ forces from border locations to their respective base camps,” Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted.
“This is a historic step in our relations. My gratitude to CM Neiphiu_Rio for working with Assam in restoring peace on the border. Assam is committed to ensuring peace along all its borders & strives for social & economic prosperity of the North-East region,″ Sarma said in another tweet.
The forest department backed by Assam Police on June 29 had set up a forest protection camp at Dissoi Valley Reserve Forest along the Assam-Nagaland border at Mariani in Jorhat district to stave off further inroads by Naga miscreants from across the border.
The camp has been set up at the spot where the then Mariani MLA Rupjyoti Kurmi had been shot at by miscreants from Nagaland at the interstate border at Balijan Pahar in his constituency on May 27.
Assam and Nagaland will monitor the area by surveillance using UAV and satellite imagery with the view to maintain status quo.
“In this regard it is decided by both sides that the security forces of both sides will move back from their present location to their respective base camps” Pegu said.
Pegu further said that simultaneous withdrawal of the security personnel shall begin immediately and be completed in the next 24 hours as far as possible.
The SPs of Jorhat, Assam and Mokokchung, Nagaland shall ensure orderly withdrawal of their respective forces.
