Kohima: Despite the promulgation of Section 144 of the Cr. P. C. by the Dimapur district administration since February 24, high tension continued along Nagaland- Assam Border, when over a thousand people on Monday converged on the disputed area between Dimapur and Karbi Anglong, Assam and reportedly indulged in ‘stone pelting.’
Official sources said that the standoff occurred at a location bound by the Lengri River on the west and Rilan and Indisen villages towards east.
An early disagreement between some people clearing land in the area took a wider turn as the people took sides. The mob surged to around a thousand by late morning. Though police claimed the mob was dispersed before a confrontation could occur, sporadic incidents of stone-pelting occurred, sources said.
The situation calmed down at around 9:00 am when police resorted to action, deploying at least two companies of Nagaland Armed Police (Indian Reserve Battalion) personnel, initially requisitioned to prevent people from entering the disputed border land. Despite the promulgation of Section 144 Cr. P. C since February 24, on the Nagaland side of the disputed border land, people continue to infiltrate the area with impunity.
Sources said that the Sub- Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Niuland, Mhonyamo Tsopoe, who was present at the site of the incident, informed that over a thousand people (not land owners) came to the areas between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. after which they started pelting stones demanding that a ‘status quo’ was to be maintained in the area. Tsopoe said police personnel including Indian Reserve Battalion jawans have been deployed in order to prevent the ‘alleged encroachers.’ The situation was brought under control only at around 9 a.m, said Niuland. He said it was difficult to control encroachers as the disputed area stretching about 20 kms had many entry points. It was informed that the Assam Police patrolling Karbi Anglong side of the border did not intervene. (UNI)
