The whole incident began on September 7, when the Sibsagar Students’ Union, along with the Assam media, crossed the border and entered the Naga areas to stage a noisy protest just outside the Nagaland police gate. The Sibsagar students burnt effigies, reportedly of the Assam Border minister, and put up banner that read ‘Welcome to Sibsagar district’ in Nagaland.
Assam students threaten economic blockade Meanwhile, Wakching Area Students’ Union (WASU), which was in Naginimora to discuss the ILP issue with the NKSU, accidentally happened to reach the scene of protest, following which an argument ensued between the two student unions.
According to the WASU president Longme Konyak, the Sibsagar students led by their union’s general secretary, claimed that the entire ‘border dispute’ area and the land beyond the disputed area stretching to about 1 kilometre till the Nagaland police gate belongs to Assam. They even threatened to call an economic blockade on Naginimora/ Nagaland. However, the Konyak students asserted that they merely sent the Assam students with a warning to keep the protest and activities on their side of the border.
Hence, the strike and meeting were called on September 8 in Naginimora. However, enraged by the continual provocation from Assam, local boys from Naginimora went to the disputed area and put up similar banners saying ‘Welcome to Nagaland’. The Assam police retaliated by firing at the boys, while the Assam media claimed that the local boys were accompanied by the “undergrounds.”
Meanwhile, the district administration in Naginimora maintained that public records of the said land belonging to the Konyak Nagas still exist in the form of an agreement between the tea estate company (not Assam government) and the local Konyaks.
The agreement signed in 1978 is that of an extension of the tea garden area for which the company pays tax of Rs.4, 222 annually to the Naginimora town administration.
Receipts of the tax paid till 2008 is in possession of the town administration. The agreement clearly states that the low-lying areas including paddy fields already developed by the local Nagas will remain in the possession of the local people. Another document in which the Nagaland government granted permit also exists in the ADC office of Naginimora.
The EAC of Naginimora Chingak Konyak informed that earlier on September 1, Assam administration led by the SDO (Civil) of Nazira, Assam police and the CRPF had entered the area in question and halted some work of a local landowner.
The EAC along with Naginimora police had sent them back for admonishing them for entering the area without notifying the Nagaland administration.
However, the EAC has expressed concern for the security of the local people especially with the CRPF – which is a central force – taking active role along with the Assam police.
Chingak Konyak disclosed that he had already sent an application to the Deputy Commissioner of Mon about the need for more security personnel in the area but added that at least one company of NAP (IR) might be required to remove any threat on the public.
In addition, the WASU president said that the Naginimora police was found to be acutely lacking in adequate arms and ammunition due to which they were reduced to “spectators” while the Sibsagar students were protesting outside the Nagaland gate on September 7.
He called on the concerned area representatives and the state government to seriously tackle the issue else the public would have to take the matter into their own hands.