Assam, Nagaland sign border pact to resolve conflict at Tzürangkong

• Both States to withdraw police forces from border
• Surveillance to be carried out using UAV, Sat imagery

Staff Reporter/Correspondent DIMAPUR/MOKOKCHUNG, JUL 31 (NPN): Hours after the chief secretaries of Assam and Nagaland signed an agreement to disengage their respective police forces at Dessoi valley reserved forest/Tzürangkong valley to de-escalate tension in the border area, police forces of both state begun the process of withdrawal to their original positions in order to maintain peace and tranquillity.

According to official sources, total withdrawal of police forces at the Tzürangkong border under Mokokchung district could take a day or two.

The agreement was arrived at the meeting held at Chümoukedima Police Complex Saturday, between Nagaland chief secretary J. Alam (IAS) and Assam chief secretary Jishnu Barua (IAS), in presence of Nagaland deputy chief minister Y Patton and Assam education minister Ranoj Pegu. The meeting resolved that disengagement and withdrawal of police forces would be completed within 24 hours after signing of the agreement.

Both sides agreed that urgent and effective steps were required for defusing the stand-off between the security forces of Nagaland and Assam in and around Aosenden village and Vikuto village. The villages were identified in Assam as Jankhona Nala/Nagajankha and compartment No. 12 respectively.

Both the states have also agreed to monitor the area by surveillance using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) and satellite imagery with a view to maintain status quo.

It was also decided that both the superintendents of police (SPs) of Mokokchung district and Jorhat district will ensure orderly withdrawal of their respective police forces and “shall be responsible for it in the instant case”.

It may be recalled that Assam Police had reportedly intruded into Nagaland side and destroyed farm houses and cultivation at Aosenden village as well as setting up outpost near Vikuto village both under Tzürangkong area.

When contacted, DC Mokokchung Limawapang Jamir informed Nagaland Post that he along with SP Mokokchung and other officers drove to Mariani (Assam) and met with their counterparts soon after signing of the agreement.

He disclosed that both sides agreed to set up a joint committee to oversee the withdrawal/dismantling of police outposts/camps. The committee includes– ADCs of Mangkolemba and Jorhat; Addl SPs of Mokokchung and Jorhat; Border Magistrates of Tzürangkong and Mariani; SDPOs of Mangkolemba and Titabor.

Patton lauds: Meanwhile, taking to media persons after the signing of the agreement, deputy chief minister and minister in-charge of Home, Y Patton informed that Union Home minister Amit Shah had categorically asked both Nagaland and Assam governments to resolve the border disputes at the earliest.

As a follow up of this directive, both the states signed the agreement to de-escalate tension by withdrawing the police forces.

“Today it was for Aosenden and Vikuto villages under Tzürangkong valley. Other border issues will also be taken up by both the state governments soon,” Patton said.

He, however, clarified that Nagaland Police will not withdraw from their outpost unless Assam Police also did likewise as agreed upon.

On complaints of checking and harassment on travelers from Nagaland while crossing Assam, Patton said he had raised this issue at Saturday’s meeting and had asked the Assam delegation to look into the matter and to do away with such checking.

Patton said he also raised the issue of night curfews imposed in Sibsagar district from time to time. Patton said he urged upon Assam government to lift the curfew as Nagas living near the border were facing hardship.

Meanwhile, the Assam education minister Ranoj Pegu said despite Nagaland and Assam having decades old border disputes, both states had been maintaining peace. Pegu lauded the statesmanship of union home minister Amit Shah and chief ministers of Assam and Nagaland for taking the initiative to resolve the border dispute.

Pegu said he assured Patton to positively look in to the issues raised by him in order to ensure good relations between the two states.

When asked what steps the Assam had taken to resolve border issue with Mizoram after the recent conflict, Pegu said: “Mizoram issue is very much different and cannot not be equated with that of the Assam Nagaland issue”. He said whatever issues involved with the Assam-Nagaland borders, both government were in talking terms and ready to discuss and resolve issues.

Pegu further appealed to the citizens of both the states to continue maintaining peace and tranquillity.

The meeting was also attended by DGP Nagaland TJ Longkumer, principal secretary home Abhijit Sinha and commissioner Nagaland Rovilatuo Mor.