7 houses torched, tension runs high
Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Dimapur, February 27 2014 :
Tension is fast heightening as the Assam-Nagaland border impasse continues with seven houses at a Dimasa village torched by miscreants this morning even as indefinite economic blockade against Nagaland enters the third day today.
Reports from Diphu in Karbi Anglong district of Assam said some miscreants entered Itchapur village which is confined by Dimasa tribe of Assam in the wee hours today and set ablaze the village in which seven houses were engulfed in the fire.
The reports said Itchapur village falls under Diphu subdivision.
Though the Karbi Anglong district administration suspects that people opposed to the blockade might have committed the act but officially no details were revealed.
The indefinite economic blockade against Nagaland in both the National Highway 39 and NH-36 since February 25 has been imposed by Karbi Students and Youth Council (KSYC), All Dimasa Students' Union (ADSU), All Assam Gurkha Students' Union (AAGSU), Karbi Unemployed Youth Association (KUYA), KSA, ADSU, AAGSU, Karbi Re-Awakening Organisation (KRAO) and United Students Union of Karbi Anglong (USUKA) in protest against the alleged encroachment of Assam's territory by people from Nagaland side.
Meanwhile, the reports said security measures have been further tightened following this morning's incident.
Two battalions of IRB and large number of police being deployed in the Nagaland-Assam border near Dimapur on Wednesday.
CrPC 144 continues to be promulgated by the concerned administration in the areas where the blockades are being enforced by agitators.
Large number of youths with placards and banners have also been seen put up by the blockade supporters.
Hundreds of heavy vehicles both from Nagaland and Manipur have been stranded due to the indefinite economic blockade, the reports added.
Earlier, the Rengma Naga People's Counci (RNPC) has strongly condemned the blockade and termed it as treacherous, irrational and misguided.
RNPC general secretary Solomon Rengma had said that it was condemnable because the various Karbi unions including student bodies, youth organisations, etc., are alleging that Nagas are encroaching Karbi land in Assam whereas it is a recorded fact that there are no Karbi lands in Assam except Hamren Sub-division, a point which has been pointed out by Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi himself too.