Officials, Border Magistrates, police personnel and public leaders from Mokokchung, Nagaland and Jorhat, Assam at the Deputy Commissioner-level Border Coordination Meeting at the ADC conference hall, Mangkolemba, on July 10. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Mangkolemba | July 10
A Deputy Commissioner-level border coordination meeting between the district administrations of Jorhat (Assam) and Mokokchung (Nagaland) was held on July 10 to review inter-state boundary issues and strengthen coordination for maintaining peace along the Assam-Nagaland frontier.
The closed-door meeting took place at the conference hall of the Additional Deputy Commissioner’s office in Mangkolemba. Media personnel were not allowed to cover the proceedings.
Addressing reporters after the discussions, Mokokchung Deputy Commissioner Ajit Kumar Verma, IAS, informed that the deliberations were “constructive” and “positive.”
Verma said the meeting was convened to ensure effective coordination at the border and to address issues through consultations at the Border Magistrate, local and Deputy Commissioner levels.
“The meeting has been convened to ensure that coordination at the border level is happening and whatever issues we are facing in the border areas are consulted properly at the Border Magistrate level, at the local level as well as at the DC level so that we can smoothly ensure that peace is maintained in the border areas,” he said.
He thanked Jorhat Deputy Commissioner Jay Shivani, IAS, for agreeing to hold the meeting at the Mangkolemba ADC Office, stating that it was the first DC-level border coordination meeting conducted at the venue.
According to Verma, representatives of civil society organisations from both Nagaland and Assam, along with officials from the district administrations and police, participated in the meeting. He said issues of concern to both sides were discussed and resolved in accordance with previous agreements and official records.
Jorhat DC Jay Shivani said regular coordination between the two district administrations had been maintained and stressed the need to further strengthen communication, particularly among Border Magistrates.
“Our Border Magistrates have been in coordination almost on a daily basis. Today also we resolved that they should continue to remain in touch, keep interacting and organise meetings and other activities so that communities on both sides continue to live in harmony,” he said.
Shivani noted that while DC-level border coordination meetings are not held at fixed intervals, they are convened whenever required to review the prevailing situation and reinforce cooperation. He expressed confidence that continued coordination would help ensure peace, development and harmonious relations between the bordering communities of Assam and Nagaland.
The meeting was attended by officials from both district administrations, including the Superintendents of Police of Mokokchung and Jorhat, who presented overviews of border-related issues from their respective jurisdictions. Border Magistrates from Tzurangkong and Longchem subdivisions, their counterparts from Assam, members of the Border Peace Coordination Committee, and public leaders from both Nagaland and Assam also addressed the gathering.
According to the meeting minutes shared by the district administration, both sides agreed on several key measurers.
Regarding Aosenden Village, the two district administrations reaffirmed strict adherence to the status quo as decided during the Chief Secretary-level meeting held on July 31, 2021. They also agreed to refrain from any activity or new construction work which violates the existing arrangement of maintaining status quo.
For Aokum Village, the administrations agreed that the concerned Border Magistrates from both sides would conduct a joint verification of the area within seven days.
Both sides agreed to have better coordination and response so as to maintain tranquility in the border area, and also resolve that both the district administrations would ensure regular communication and promptly share details of newly transferred Border Magistrates and police officers to maintain close coordination and continuity.
Additionally, both sides agreed that prior intimation would be given for all official border visits and activities, with due consideration given to local sensitivities, including Sunday observance in Nagaland.
