Assam-Nagaland border row: Crucial meeting on November 25

As economic blockade by Assam organisations entered ninth day, DC Mokokchung hopeful of achieving breakthrough during forthcoming meeting

Our Correspondent
Mokokchung, Nov. 23 (EMN): As the economic blockade against Nagaland by Assam-based organisations on NH-702 (D) entered the ninth day on Monday, a new development has surfaced offering hope of an end to the deadlock.

A deputy commissioner/superintendent of police level meeting is scheduled to be held at Jorhat, Assam on November 25.

This was disclosed by the deputy commissioner of Mokokchung, Limawabang Jamir, to Eastern Mirror on Monday evening.

“I am hopeful there will be a breakthrough to resolve the matter and ease the heightened tension,” Jamir said.

“Even today, I have written to DC Jorhat officially. We are trying our best from the level of DC, SP, ADC Mangkolemba, border magistrate Merangmen, with our counterparts; pressing the point that total blockade does not serve any purpose but simply heightens tension among the people,”  he shared.

The DC said that imposing blockade on the National Highway ‘can be termed as illegal’.

Jamir also asserted that to break the deadlock, both the state governments should work to de-escalate the tension and resolve the matter.  

The DC had, on November 22, visited the affected border belt and interacted with stakeholders including Ao Senden village council, Tsurangkong Range Naga Youth Front, Tsurangkong Senso and Japukong Students’ Conference.

He informed that the stakeholders had urged to resolve the border issue at the earliest ‘at state government-level’ and raised concern over the delay in completion of the foothill road.

‘I have brought to the notice of the state government the grievances faced by the people living in the affected border belt,’ he informed.

The blockade imposed by the Assam-based organisations has totally cut off NH 702 (D), an economically strategic road for Mokokchung, Zunheboto and Tuensang districts.