Abducted Nagaland government employee released by Manipur villagers

''The Nagaland interpreter was manhandled and abducted by some people of Manipur from an area along mthe disputed inter-State boundary following an altercation over cutting of firewood...''

KOHIMA: The Nagaland government employee abducted by some people of neighbouring Manipur from a disputed area along the inter-State boundary following an altercation over cutting of firewood on Monday was subsequently released late at night, the Nagaland Assembly was informed on Tuesday. The employee, a 'dobashi' (interpreter), was manhandled and taken away by the residents of Tungjoy Village in Manipur's Senapati district at around noon on Monday. He was released late at night following intervention of the governments of the two States, said Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister in-charge of Home, Y Patton.

Patton made the statement after Opposition Naga People's Front (NPF) MLA Chotisuh Sazo raised at the Zero Hour the issue of the dobashi's abduction near Khezhakeno village in Chida area of Phek district. Sazo also asked the government about measures taken by it to settle the boundary dispute between the two States.

He further said that around two years ago, a group of people from Tungjoy Village had burnt down structures erected for a proposed visit of the Nagaland governor to a lake in the same area. The Deputy Chief Minister added that around 150-200 people of Khezhakeno village of Nagaland went to Kahuzo forest area in Tungjoy to get firewood on February 12 and when a policeman of Manipur reached the spot and tried to stop them, they did not recognise his authority.

On Monday, 500 odd people of Tungjoy came to Nagaland side and started cutting firewood, and when policemen and the dobashi went there, the mob overpowered them, Patton said. They took the dobashi with them while returning and he was released at around 11.30 pm after the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police of both the States discussed the issue, Patton informed the Assembly.

An FIR is being registered by the superintendent of police of Phek district, he said. The SP has been directed to make an enquiry into the incident and submit a report to the Police Headquarters, the deputy CM said. (Agencies)

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