Blockade & Counter-Blockade along Nagaland-Assam border
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Newmai News Network
Dimapur, May 27 2013:
Adivasis and Nagas in the Nagaland-Assam border of Mariani are on loggerhead with both sides imposing blockade and counter blockade.
Under the banner of All Assam Tea Tribes' Students Association (AATTSA), the Adivasis have imposed blockade to Nagaland at Mariani area of Assam-Nagaland border accusing the Nagas of assaulting the some Adivasis.
On the other hand, the Nagas alleged that the Adivasis are encroaching into Nagas' land and had destroyed the standing crops in the fields of the Nagas at Mariani area.
"Unable to restrain further, the villagers waylaid the encroachers on May 23 and caught two encroachers red-handed in the act of destroying plantation and cultivated land within the village ancestral land near the Assam border.
The encroachers culprits were handed over to the Police Station of Longchem Hq for necessary action," the Naga villages of Nokpu Village Council and Saring Nokpu B Village Council have stated.
Vehicles from Nagaland and travelers at Mariani have been blocked since last Friday with a 24-hour demanding that the Government of Assam arrest those Naga villagers involved in Thursday's abduction and assault on two Adivasis failing,which indefinite road blockade will be imposed on Nagaland.
Countering the act of the Adivasi community, the apex body of the Ao Nagas under the banner of Ao Senden have also announced to impose counter-blockade from 6 am of May 28 .
The Nokpu Village Council and Saring Nokpu 'B' village Council of Nagaland alleged that activities of the 'encroachers' from Assam side, comprising of armed Adivasis and illegal immigrants under the instigation of some individual with selfish vested interest from the area are still continuing.
The village councils then said there are historical facts and evidences that tell them about having very good Ahoms – Naga relationship which exists till today; and even closer relationship between the communities living border areas.
Both village councils re-iterated that people of Nokpu village still maintained the age old close relationship with the people of Ahoms and there is no misunderstanding with the people of Assam except that 'we are against illegal immigrants who are encroaching our ancestral land' .
"Therefore, the action of the villagers in apprehending the encroachers/culprit and approaching authorities for taking action as per law should not be construed as kidnapping case, and further, both the councils appeal to the local residence of Naganijan/Nakachari/Mariani section; not to resort to false allegation which would result in disturbing peace in the area, and also pointed out that if any encroachers are caught in future the village will deal with them as per customary law of the land," the Village Councils stated.
There are around 80 lakhs populations of Adivasis in Assam alone and a couple of Adivasi based militant outfits are existing demanding a Adivasi statehood by carving out a portion of Assam state.
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