ICHAM urges Rajnath to resolve Mao-Nagaland deadlock
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, June 17 2015 : Information Centre for Hill Areas, Manipur (ICHAM) has shot off a memorandum to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to intervene in the current state of affairs in Mao in Manipur's Senapati district arising out of the construction of road in Dz�kou Valley by South Angamai People's Organisation from neighbouring Nagaland State.

Addressing a press meet at Manipur Press Club, ICHAM president N Rajendra stated that a stalemate persists between Mao and Angami people after the road construction within the boundary of Manipur.

He said people in Nagaland have prohibited Mao residents from entering the neighbouring State and cited the incident of June 16 wherein eight Manipur bound vehicles were damaged near Pessema in Nagaland.

"Several persons were also assaulted in the incident and some of them underwent medical treatment" .

Rajendra said two Manipur bound vehicles were also torched on June 16 night in Nagaland, but timely intervention by fire brigade personnel avoided these vehicles from complete destruction.

Nearly 300 Mao students studying in Nagaland have been expelled from that State following the stalemate over the Dz�kou issue, the memorandum to the Union Home Minister said.

"We've drawn the attention of Rajnath to the whole issue," Rajendra informed.

The copy of the memorandum has also been submitted to the Governor and the Chief Minister.

The ICHAM leader said vegetables and potato produced in Mao are sold in Kohima and Dimapur, but this business has been halted since the standoff.

Most of the people from Mao living in Nagaland have already left that State because of fear and apprehension, he maintained.

It's high time that both the State and Central Government do something to end the impasse between Mao and Nagaland people, he urged.

In the memorandum IACHAM stated, "Dzuko is a part and parcel of Manipur.

We have history connected with this valley.

The people from across the State visit this valley either for sightseeing or picnicking" .

Manipur Government has deployed police forces at Dzuko for protecting the land and people residing near the valley, but all of sudden Nagaland people have demanded shifting of the State police force from the area, the memorandum said.

It added that the encroachment upon Dzuko Valley was brought to light and subsequently the men and machineries used in the construction of road had been sent back.

This marks the on se of angle and restlessness among the Angami community of Nagaland State, it said and added that consequently quit notice was serve to Mao people living in Nagaland.

"The stand taken by the Angami is unacceptable" .

It said they (Angami) have to be told again and again Dzuko is a part of Manipur, adding ICHAM had earlier submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister of Manipur O Ibobi Singh mentioning the plight of the people living in Senapati district, but nothing was done to end the suffering of the people.

Permanent solution will be found when the boundary is clearly demarcated, ICHAM urged in the memorandum.

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