Guwahati: The situation was on Saturday peaceful along the Assam-Nagaland border in Golaghat district, where eleven people have died so far, but nearly ten thousand people have fled their homes to take shelter in relief camps.
Briefing reporters, Assam Chief Secretary Jitesh Khosla said that the Nagaland government ”is cooperating with us though certain underground elements were fomenting trouble in the border areas”. Meanwhile, normal life was affected in the border areas following the rail and road blockades called by different organisations to protest against the killing by miscreants from neighbouring Nagaland though no fresh incidents of violence were reported so far, police said.
Khosla said that according to an agreement signed in 1979 between the two neighbouring states, the CRPF was assigned to maintain law and order in the area and since the outbreak of fresh violence on August 13, the strength of the paramilitary force has been increased. ”Assam government has deputed magistrates from Golaghat to monitor the situation and to ensure that the situation remained under control”, he added.
The situation in the affected areas was ”currently peaceful though nearly ten thousand people have fled their homes and taken shelter in relief camps set by the district administration”. The district administration has been directed to make necessary arrangements for those taking shelter in relief camps and take measures to ensure that they are able to return to their homes at the earliest, Khosla added.
Meanwhile, train services were affected in Upper Assam areas following the indefinite rail blockade called by activists of the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) blocking railway tracks at Naojan area in Golaghat to protest against the violence. The Kamakhya Express, Lumding-Tinsukia Passenger Express, Mariani-Guwahati Express, Dimapur Express and Janashatabdi Express were running behind schedule as they regulated at different stations along the route, a North East Frontier Railway spokesman said here.
Road traffic to and from Nagaland was also affected after All Assam Students’ Union , Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad , All Assam Adivasi Students’ Association and All Assam Tea Tribes Students Association resorted to road blockade at Rangajan.
Trouble began on Tuesday during a protest rally when an agitated mob gathered in front of 155 CRPF battalion at Chetiagaon village under Uriamghat police station to protest against the abduction of two school boys by suspected miscreants from Nagaland.
CRPF personnel resorted to lathicharge to disperse the mob when miscreants from across the border opened fire at the protestors killing one person following which the violence escalated and subsequently ten bodies were recovered during the last two days. (PTI)
