Dimapur, April 2 (NEPS): The large number of people comprising mostly Miyas and Adivasis from the Assam-Nagaland border areas had last night destroyed a new village, some 24 kms away from Merapani area under Wokha district, which is going to be inaugurated by State Horticulture and Agriculture Minister, Dr TM Lotha today at 10.00 am.

The Minister, who was already in Dimapur last evening for setting out his journey to Hayiyan early this morning to inaugurate the proposed new village, had been informed late last night by the Wokha administration and police not to venture out as the people living in the border areas comprising mostly Miyas and Adivasis had already devised to disturb the program.

The Minister had no option but to cancel his program, as there is no other way except going via Golaghat.

However, the Miyas and Adivasis living in the border areas had last night gone to the proposed new village areas and destroyed all the structures and monoliths to be inaugurated by Dr Lotha.

According to sources, the Golaghat SP had even allegedly instructed their jawans to go and destroy the monoliths and other structures of proposed new village in Hayiyan.

He (SP) had even reportedly threatened to discharge those jawans from service if they failed to carry out his orders, the sources alleged.

The high ranking Assam police officials have also been reportedly camping in the last few days in Golaghat district of Assam monitoring the fast growing heightened tension in the border areas.

Talking to NEPS here today after canceling his program to Hayiyan, Dr Lotha strongly reacted against the development, which had forced him to cancel his trip to Hayiyan.

"I have decided to cancel my going to inaugurate the proposed new village in Hayiyan just to avoid further complexity in the border areas," he narrated.

"The proposed new village in Hayiyan under Nagaland's Wokha district in completely outside the Disputed Area Belt (DAB)," he explained, wondering as to how the people in the border areas had thought of putting up such agitation against the setting up new villages in "our own land".

The Minister also felt that the recent visit by some Assam Ministers followed by their Governor, Lt Gen (retd) Ajay Singh had pushed the already charged situation to a dangerous proportion.

"It would have been better had the Assam Chief Minister visited the border areas instead of Governor who, I feel, should rather maintain neutral in such development," he elucidated.

The Assam Governor when he visited Tsurang in the border areas on Thursday had even attempted to reach up to Governor's Camp in Wokha district that is also close to Niuland district.

He (Governor) failed, as no bridge is there to cross the Doyang River to reach the Governor's Camp, said Monchan Lotha, a well-known politician from Lakhuti village, who contested in the last Assembly election from 40 Bhandari Assembly constituency.

It is also reported that while the Governor cruised around in the Merapani foothill areas attempting to reach Governor's Camp, his (Governor) entourage with the help of Assam jawans destroyed all the signboards on roadsides, which were written Wokha district.

"By his visit, the whole area is agitated and highly alarmed," Monchan added.

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