Nagaland Agrees to withdraw temporary police post from disputed area

ASSAM BOUNDARY ROW

OUR CORRESPONDENT

HOWRAGHAT: After a meeting held between senior police officials representing the Bokajan subdivision, senior officials of Assam Police (SDPO Bokajan), executive magistrates and administrative officials of Nagaland, and officers of Indian Reserve Battalion (IRBN) on Saturday, the Nagaland administration agreed to withdraw the temporary police post from the disputed area which was constructed some 300 metres inside Assam in the Daldali Reserve Forest.

Both the sides agreed that a final decision in this regard would be taken in a high-level meeting soon and till then status quo would be maintained by both the States to avoid any misunderstanding. Later, the bunker was flattened and the fabricated walls and roofs were removed by Nagaland.

A team of Assam Police and Forest Department officials demolished an illegal bunker and a temporary camp build by the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRBN) at Dillai Reserve Forest by Nagaland administration of Dimapur on December 26. According to reports, the Government of Nagaland built this camp around 300 metres inside Karbi Anglong district on December 24. According to Assam administration, the forested area is within Karbi Anglong autonomous district and under Lahorijan police patrol post. On December 26, a joint team of Assam Police and Forest Department demolished the camp, stating that it was built on Assam’s soil and terming the construction as an act of encroachment.

The Assam Government’s action led to escalation of tension in the area over the last few days. The media accused the Nagaland administration of high-handedness and use of excessive force. The camp was set up after removing the inter-State boundary pillars of Assam and Nagaland.

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