From Bhupen Goswami
GUWAHATI : As the border dispute between Assam and Mizoram calms slightly, the situation in the 512 km border area between the two states over the border dispute between Assam and Nagaland is getting grim. The indefinite economic blockade of Nagaland on NH-39 over alleged encroachment of Assam land continues today. Further talks have also been proposed by the officials of both sides after a meeting to discuss the issue. Karbi Students Association (KSA) President Bijoy Bee said that government officials in Assam said that their Nagaland counterparts have assured to maintain status quo till the next proposal on the disputed area and requested the organizations to stop the blockade.
Earlier on Tuesday, a team led by Deputy Commissioner and Commissioner of Police, Dimapur, Nagaland, made a joint spot visit with Deputy Commissioner Dipu (Assam) and other officials, after which a meeting took place. In Assam, several organizations in Karbi Anglong district had started an indefinite economic blockade of Nagaland from Tuesday citing alleged illegal encroachment by the neighbouring state. Led by the Carby Students Association (KSA), the organizations blocked NH 39 from 8:00 am on Tuesday morning. Several trucks carrying goods and other commercial vehicles are stranded due to the blockade. On the other hand, the tension between the two states has been continuing ever since Nagaland encroached into the disputed area of Assam and Nagaland.
Recently, several organizations including the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) and the All Tai Ahom Students Union (ATASU) on the disputed area have started an economic blockade against Nagaland on the Mayani-Nagajanka road in Jorhat. An economic blockade has been initiated against encroachment by the Nagaland administration inside the Disco Valley Forest under the Mayani range of Jorhat Forest Division. It is reported that mini trucks carrying essential commodities have been banned from entering Nagaland on behalf of Assam. However, several large trucks carrying essential commodities are making way from Amguri in Sivasagar district to Nagaland, making the blockade almost ineffective. The stalemate continues in both the states as both the Nagaland police refused to vacate the temporary hut with the support of their government. For information, there was tension over a locality between Assam and Nagaland many years ago. The team of jorhat unit of All Assam Students Union (AASU) recently visited the site to boost the morale of the Assam police, who were stationed in the disputed areas and reportedly lacked ration here. The team had threatened an economic blockade. The Assam T Tribes Students ‘ Association has observed a 12-hour blockade on Sunday. An official from the district administration said that Nagaland made efforts to persuade the Nagaland administration to vacate the area by armed policemen but it did not matter. At the same time, the officials representing Nagaland had said that they would request the high officials and the government to abolish the structure. The official said the police force was deployed by the Jorhat district administration to deal with any kind of situation. Are generated because of the running row. The official said that the administration is being monitored round the clock with senior district and police officials and the high officials of the Assam government are being apprised of the situation. It is alleged that the Nagaland government issued land certificates to naga people on the land of Assam in Karbi Anglong and Jorhat districts, the official denied that any such papers had not been issued. Nagaland and Assam have a border of 512 kilometres and a dispute which has been going on for five decades. Nagaland is claiming parts of Assam, while the latter is accusing it of encroaching thousands of hectares of land. Both the states have refused to accept the recommendations of the two commissions set up by the Centre to resolve the issue and a case is pending in the Supreme Court on the issue since 1988. There have been several violent clashes on the issue. More than 300 people have been killed in separate incidents by armed men of Nagaland. However, locals alleged that politicians from both states were always trying to keep the issue alive to take their political advantage. With this, the central government has not taken any steps for 5 decades. So, this issue has gone to the Supreme Court.
