DIMAPUR, May 27 NNN : Adivasis and Nagas in the Nagaland-Assam border of Mariani are on loggerhead and hence blockade and counter blockade from both the sides.
Under the banner of the 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.
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 to the act of the Adivasi community, the apex body of the Ao Nagas under the banner of Ao Senden will 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 evidence that tells us about having very good Ahoms – Naga relationship which exist till today; and even closer relationship between the communities living border areas, both village council re-iterates 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 Assamese people except that we are against illegal immigrants who are encroaching our ancestral land, it added.
“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 council appeal to the local residence of Naganijan/Nakachari/Mariani section; not to resort to false allegation which would result 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 population 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.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/assam-nagaland-bodies-launch-blockades-against-each-other/
