After attack on MLA, Assam and Nagaland to discuss border issues

The development comes in the wake of the unprovoked attack on Congress MLA from Mariani Rupjyoti Kurmi, who was fired upon from a distance, allegedly by unidentified settlers from Nagaland, on Thursday.

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From Our Correspondent

GUWAHATI:

Assam and Nagaland are set to meet over the next two days to discuss all pending border issues, including alleged encroachment at Desoi Valley Reserve Forest along the inter-state border in Jorhat district.

The development comes in the wake of the unprovoked attack on Congress MLA from Mariani Rupjyoti Kurmi, who was fired upon from a distance, allegedly by unidentified settlers from Nagaland, on Thursday.

The Mariani legislator along with a delegation also comprising forest officials was making an on-the-spot assessment after complaints of encroachment in his consistency, allegedly by occupants from Nagaland in the hilly forest area on Assam territory, when the incident took place.

Fortunately, he and the other members of the team, including forest personnel, escaped unhurt.

“The inspectors general of police (IG) border of both Assam and Nagaland will have a meeting in the next two days to discuss threadbare the border issues between the two neighbouring states,” special director general of police (Assam), G.P Singh told media persons after assessing the situation on the ground on Friday and having preliminary discussions with police and district officials of Nagaland.

“Besides, senior officers from Nagaland Police, including IG (border), SP and district magistrate (Mokokchung) have agreed to discuss (in a DC-SP level meeting) with us all the issues regarding the reserve forest on either Sunday or Monday and work out a solution. I along with SP and DC, Jorhat, and DIG will attend the meeting,” Singh said.
Singh was on Wednesday directed by chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to rush to the area and carry out a spot investigation.
“Upon inspection, it has been noticed that some areas of the reserve forest have been encroached upon with plantations, which were however evicted by the Assam forest department on Wednesday,” he said.

He said that, with regard to a case filed at Mariani police station by the MLA, the Jorhat SP has been directed to take action and write a letter to his Mokokchung counterpart “to identify who committed Thursday’s firing, whether the weapons were licensed or unlicensed, and if unlicensed, then action should be taken against them.”

“We will submit a report to the government within the next 48 hours, intimating it about the activities that have violated an earlier directive of the Supreme Court. Subsequently, if the government finds it imperative to take advice from the law department, we will request the government to file a contempt of court case,” Singh said.
“Besides, following a request, the Nagaland IG, magistrate and SP have, in principle, agreed to stop all such activities and carry out joint forest patrolling with Assam. They have agreed to abide by the existing agreements and directions of the Supreme Court,” he said.

(Edited by Shankar Kumar Turha)

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