Tension looms large along the Assam-Nagaland Border!

 Border Peace Coordination Committee (Assam-Nagaland) –– BPCC (A-N) –– has appealed to public on either sides of the border to avoid all such affairs that could affect peace coordination on Assam-Nagaland border and likely to deteriorate age-old good relations of Assam and Nagaland.

The appeal comes in the wake of an incident that reportedly took place near Hoolungooree Tea Estate on Assam side of the Nagaland border in Jorhat district on February 15, 2017.

In a press release, BPCC (A-N) president, BP Bora, and vice president, Imsu Jamir, said a team of BPCC (A-N) on February 16, 2017 took a stock of the situation and learnt from the staff of Tea Estate and secretary of village defense party (VDP) that four armed persons warned a group of about 8-9 persons cultivating in an area of land asking them not to do so without paying taxes. Armed persons also allegedly insisted on payment ranging from Rs.10,000 to Rs.30,000.

However, BPCC (A-N) said it could not possess any of such records so far. BPCC (A-N) recalled that in 2016 also an unidentified group of people attempted to create tension on some residents of Hoolungooree Tea Estate, who were either cultivating the land or collecting firewood around.

BPCC (A-N) said in 2016 also it took stock of the situation and was desirous of a discussion involving people around the spot where such unfortunate situations occurred in an attempt to evolve means for mutual benefit and avoid things of such recurrences. However, BPCC (A-N) said it could not afford to do so due to lack of required logistics. The committee maintained that it could attempt to arrest the situation provided required logistics were available to it from governments, public and all other well-wishers.

It also stated that the report published in Assam media on February 16, 2017 could also be considered as an attempt to reignite tension along the interstate border areas.

Meanwhile, BPCC (A-N) coordinator, Er. Temsu Wathi Ao, informed that the village authorities of surrounding Naga villages have been contacted and BPCC (A-N) members were continuously coordinating with the public on both sides for peaceful co-existence.

He said though efforts were on to curb the situation, adding that the situation was tense but under control currently.

Source:Nagaland Post