Morung Express News
Dimapur | August 6
Apprehension, tension and an uneasy calm runs high in Mokokchung as the Ao Senden called a public meeting in relation to the threat by the All Assam Students Union (AASU), which is threatening to enter Nagaland and destroy the checkgate at Tsutapela in Tzurangkong area inside Mokokchung.
A public announcement was made this evening at around 6:30 pm to 7 pm, through public address system, amidst loud cheers from the public. Sources said all able-bodied males in the town are in readiness to go down to Tzurangkong area to fight the Assam students who have reportedly threatened to come up to Longtoh area, a small township which is within the boundary of Nagaland.
However, everything would be decided at tomorrow’s meeting called by the Ao Senden Executive Committee and the Mokokchung town elders, which has been called at 7 O’clock at Mokokchung Police Point. A meeting today resolved on the various course of actions to be taken and mobilization of public awareness of the impending situation.
Tension first started in Tzurangkong area in Mokokchung after an Assamese local Daily ‘Asomiya Pratidin’ reported that the AASU will march up to Tzurang valley to occupy Naga soil. This prompted the villagers to impose a bandh in the area from July 6. “Volunteers from Mokokchung town and the nearby villages shall proceed to Tzurangkong villages to support and assist the situation on 8th Aug 2007,” Ao Senden president, Temjenkaba and general secretary, Temjen Paul said in a release today.
The two leaders said today’s emergency meeting reiterated the July 11 resolution number three and further urged all the villages in Ao Naga areas to be prepared for any eventuality in the event of the war-like situation in the border areas.
Ao Students’ Conference (AKM) president, Aodangnok, when contacted, said that the AKM is with the Ao Senden and that the students’ body would support whatever decision is taken by the Ao Senden.
“What they say (AASU’s declaration to come to Naga areas) is a direct challenge to the people of Mokokchung so we are also ready to face any kind of consequences, (that may arise out of this threat by the AASU)” said Aodangnok.
Deputy Commissioner of Mokokchung, Abhishek Singh said that he visited the border area and had a meeting with the villagers in Chungtiayimsen village. Singh said that he apprised the Tzurangkong Range Union and Tzurangkong Students Union, that the district administration and the police are taking concrete steps to ensure that no unauthorized persons are allowed to enter Mokokchung from Tsutapala check post or any other check post without a proper Inner Line Permit (ILP).
Singh said that security has been beefed up in the border areas and the Police are prepared to face any eventuality. Singh further said that he has warned the Jorhat administration and its Police to restrain their students in order to ensure that no untoward incident takes place.
Deputy Commissioner Singh had a meeting with Tsurangkong villages on August 6th in Chungtiayimsen village in connection with a situation arising out of the reported move of All Assam Students Union activists to enter Nagaland from Tsutapala check post on August 8.
“Jorhat DC and SP have been asked to ensure that no students or anyone undertakes any adventure as it will be counter-productive and any persons trying to enter Nagaland without ILP will be arrested straight away” said Singh. The Mokokchung DC also appealed to the Tsurangkong villages not to resort to any bandh or blockade as that will affect the people in Nagaland side more than Assam. He said this will only help vested interests in Assam who wants to create trouble along the borders.
The DC has made an appeal to public not to panic and assured one and all that the Mokokchung administration and police will ensure that no one will be allowed to violate the territorial sanctity of Nagaland.
Assam and Nagaland have been embroiled in a bitter boundary dispute. Though Nagaland is open to an out-of-court settlement to the dispute based on historical ties, Assam on the other hand insists that the dispute can be resolved only through the Indian court system.
