Para-military forces rushed to ensure peace
Golaghat: One person was killed, several others were injured and houses set ablaze at Golaghat along Assam-Nagaland border by alleged miscreants from Nagaland following which para-military forces were deployed in the area, police said on Wednesday.
The violence took place when angry locals were agitating in front of 155 CRPF battalion office at Chetigaon village in Golaghat district on Tuesday to protest against the abduction of two boys by suspected miscreants from Nagaland.
CRPF personnel unable to control the agitators had resorted to baton charge to disperse them when the miscreants fired from across the border.
A 25-year-old youth was killed on the spot in the firing and several other agitators were injured. A total 15 houses were set ablaze as frightened residents of the border villages of Chetiagaon, Rumanbasti, Tenpur, Lachitgaon and Jadhajibasti of the district, which falls under Sector B of the Assam-Nagaland border, fled.
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has asked Parliamentary Secretary Etuwa Munda and Additional DGP A P Raut to take stock of the situation.
Additional para-military forces have been rushed to the affected area as only neutral security forces like the CRPF can be deployed along the disputed inter-state border.
Assam police force have also been kept on alert in case of any eventuality, state Home Commissioner G D Tripathi said.
Normal life was paralysed in Golaghat district in a 12-hour bandh called on Wednesday by All Adivasi Students Association of Assam (AASAA) to protest against the killing.
Assam-Nagaland border area has been divided into six sectors in Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat and Karbi Anglong districts for administrative convenience.
Tension along the inter state borders has been a long-standing concern between the two states.
Assam Environment and Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain, speaking on behalf of the Chief Minister who holds the home portfolio, told the assembly during the day that four persons were injured during the firing by Naga miscreants and one of them died on way to the hospital.
“As per reports, nearly 70 houses of adivasi people were burnt yesterday (Tuesday) ,” he said. “The current incident is a group clash. Still, our government is committed to protect the geographical integrity and will not tolerate any kind of encroachment,” he said adding around 5,000 people fled from their homes and eight relief camps have been set up to provide them shelter.
Hussain informed the house that the firing took place when members of All Adivasi Students Association of Assam and locals were protesting against the kidnapping of two student on July 26 from that area in front of the 155 CRPF camp.
“The firing started from Changlachung village as soon as protesters, CRPF and Sarupathar border Magistrate sat for a discussion on the issue. When CRPF and police team reached the spot, they saw houses were burning,” Hussain said adding no arrest has been made yet.
The affected villages are Chetiagaon, Chainpur, Ratanpur, Roman Basti and Kamphur and the government has rushed three quick reaction teams and one additional company to the spot, besides asking the ADGP (Law and Order) and IG(CRPF) to be stationed there and monitor the situation, he said.
The government has also asked senior home department officials to visit the place and take necessary action, the minister said. “Frequent contacts have been made with Nagaland government so that the situation does not deteriorate further,” Hussain added.
Noisy scenes over the incident were witnessed in the house as soon as the proceedings commenced for the day and the issue was discussed during zero hour.
An united opposition comprising AGP, AIUDF, BPF and BJP demanded adjournment of the house and requested the speaker to lead an all-party delegation to the site.
Assam Speaker Pranab Kumar Gogoi announced that he would lead an all party delegation to Golaghat district to help defuse tension in the area following the firing and create a cordial atmosphere for discussions between the two states for a lasting solution to the border problem.
The speaker said he would appreciate if a delegation of Naga MLAs too visited the area. (PTI)