Morung Express News
Dimapur | Jan 25
In a memorandum submitted to Chief Secretary Talitemjen Ao, the Lotha Students’ Union has alleged that the circular issued by SDO (Civil) Ralan pays obeisance to the Government of Assam by obtaining permission for all commercial activities of Nagas living under the Assam-Nagaland border, especially those under his jurisdiction.
“Consequent upon the circular issued by the SDO (Civil) Ralan, who is also the Border Magistrate ‘C’ Sector, Uriamghat, Nagaland, dated 09-11-05, wherein he asked the villages under the jurisdiction of SDO (Civil) Ralan to obtain permission for all commercial activities from the border magistrates of both Assam and Nagaland, besides attaching a list of questionnaire to be filled up by the Village Chairman, the Lotha Students’ Union (LSU) is hard pressed to write this memorandum to you to appraise you of the certain activities deemed fit for early redressal and necessary action thereof,” the memorandum stated.
The students are also aghast over the fact that the people in the concerned area are required to not only obtain permission from the border magistrate, Assam but also to pay taxes to him.
In this light, the LSU has stated that such a move clearly implies that either the Government of Nagaland is ceding its hold and sovereignty over the aforesaid area to the Government of Assam as a matter of policy or the SDO (Civil) Ralan is acting in connivance with the Border Magistrate Assam and also the CRPF posted “right in the heart of the Naga Villages under the present state of Nagaland.”
The villagers have till now resisted the pressure mounted by the SDO, according to the students.
Related to the students’ memorandum, a delayed circular made available to this paper by the SDO (C) Ralan, John B Chawang stated that in a border magistrate level meeting at Rengmapani, it was decided upon that all passengers carrying vehicles on commercial basis are to obtain permission from both border magistrates of Nagaland and Assam.
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