Kohima: A proposal to establish a permanent police outpost along the Assam–Nagaland border is currently under process, Deputy Chief Minister Yanthungo Patton informed the House during the fifth day of the eighth session of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly on Thursday.
Raising the issue during the session, MLA Achumbemo Kikon expressed concern over the situation in border areas and alleged that neutral forces such as the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) stationed there were not maintaining neutrality. He claimed that instead of taking a neutral stand, the forces were protecting Assam residents, whom he described as illegal immigrants, and had also stopped the operation of petrol pumps in certain areas.
Kikon said the Government of Nagaland currently has minimal presence in the border areas, with only limited deployment of Nagaland Police and the India Reserve Battalion (IRB). Referring to the 1972 interim agreement between the two states, he said the arrangement required maintaining status quo and the presence of state machinery in the disputed areas.
He also raised concerns regarding the Seed Farm at Merapani, stating that the property belongs to the Nagaland government but repair works and fund allocation have been disrupted. He urged the government to take urgent steps to protect the farm and other properties in the disputed area, warning that the state could risk losing its land and assets.
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Kikon further suggested raising Village Guards in the border areas to strengthen local security. He also asked the government about the number of police outposts set up by Assam along the border and the deployment of forest guards in the disputed area belt.
Responding to the queries, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister in charge of Border Affairs Yanthungo Patton informed the House that after 1972, Nagaland had withdrawn all its outposts from the disputed areas following the agreement, while Assam had not withdrawn all of its 13 outposts. He added that Assam currently has 63 permanent Assam Police outposts along the Assam–Nagaland border.
Patton informed that a temporary police outpost has been set up at present, while a proposal to establish a permanent outpost is under process and will be taken up at the earliest. As for the establishment of a permanent police outpost at Lio-Longchym, he said the matter is currently under examination by the State Government.
Patton also informed the House that there are 102 Naga villages located along the Assam–Nagaland border and the department is examining the deployment of additional forces in the area.
In another supplementary question raised by MLA, Achumbemo Kikon regarding whether any action has been taken by the concerned department on the issue of extending a power line from the Nagaland side to Tchunjanphen and neighboring villages in the border areas, Minister for Power & Parliamentary Affairs, K.G. Kenye stated that the department’s attempt to provide electricity supply has been stalled. He explained that the Right of Way (RoW) for the proposed line passes through the disputed area, with a larger portion falling under Assam. However, he assured that the department is actively exploring an alternative route to provide power supply to the area.
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Kikon also pointed out that several villages in the border areas, which are recognised by the state government during geo-tagging falls under Assam and should be properly demarcated during the census exercise. Sharing the concern, Minister for PHE & Cooperation, Jacob Zhimomi suggested writing to the concerned ministry or department to ensure real-time population data and correct geographical mapping of Nagaland. This, he said, would help ensure that the implementation of government schemes is not hindered and that people in border areas are not deprived of basic facilities and the benefits of government programmes.
Meanwhile, Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Village Guards C.L. John said the department is considering a proposal to undertake plantation drives in the disputed area belt. He added that forest guards could be deployed in the area if required.
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