AASAA volunteers are seen blocking the road at the Sarihajan stretch of NH 29 as the indefinite economic blockade against Nagaland took effect on Thursday, June 6.
DIMAPUR, JUNE 6 (MExN): As the All Adivasi Students’ Association of Assam (AASAA) imposed indefinite economic blockade against Nagaland took effect on Thursday, movement of commercial goods carriers proceeding towards Nagaland were severely affected. The impact of the blockade was felt particularly in NH 29 – arguably the lifeline of Nagaland. At the Sarihajan (under Bokajan sub-division, Karbi-Anglong) stretch of NH 29, AASAA volunteers were on vigil from 5:00 am, Thursday, stopping and denying passage to any Dimapur-bound commercial vehicles.
By afternoon, around 100-200 commercial vehicles were seen lined up along the highway, unable to proceed any further. The number is expected to rise as the blockade continues. There was however no disruption in movement of private vehicles. West of Dimapur towards Diphu, movement of commercial vehicles at NH 36, linking Dimapur with Nagaon in Assam also via Karbi-Anglong, was also crippled.
Meanwhile, sources speaking from Mariani, Jorhat described the situation “as calm” on the Assam side of the Jorhat-Mokokchung border with no untoward incidents reported so far following the June 3 death of an Adivasi worker at Naganijan bordering Saringyim in Mokokchung district, Nagaland. Reports reaching in from the Nagaland side of the border though stated that effigies of Nagaland Chief Minister, Chief Secretary Nagaland and District Informatics Officer of Mokokchung were burned by AATTSA volunteers following a public demonstration at Mariani.
