Economic blockade against Nagaland in East Karbi Anglong

* Daldali Reserve Forest encroachment sparks row

A CORRESPONDENT

BOKAJAN: In the wake of recent encroachments in the Daldali Reserve Forest and demolition of several border pillars along the Assam-Nagaland boundary in Karbi Anglong, a conglomeration of 12 organizations — including the KSA (Karbi Students' Association) and the AJYCP (Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad) — has launched an indefinite economic blockade barring the entry of goods-carrying trucks and also commercial vehicles into Nagaland from 7 am of November 17.

The blockade has been clamped on both the highways; at Dillai over NH-36 and also at Sarhiajan over NH-39. Both these highways serve as an important route to Nagaland. The indefinite economic blockade is bound to cause shortage of essential commodities in Nagaland.

This blockade was imposed after the expiry of an ultimatum, containing three main demands, was served to the Nagaland government. The organizations demanded that the Nagaland government must immediately stop all encroachment activities in the Daldali Reserve Forest; withdraw the illegal land pattas issued by it in the Rilan Basti area along the Assam-Nagaland boundary; and re-install the seven missing border pillars according to the GPS coordinates.

The organizations also warned that if the Nagaland government failed to resolve the issue peacefully, they would be compelled to impose blockade by restricting the entry of all goods-laden trucks into Nagaland.

Encroachment in the Daldali Reserve Forest has long remained the central cause of dispute between Dimapur district in Nagaland and Karbi Anglong district in Assam. The situation worsened after the Nagaland government set up two IRBn camps at the inter-State Dillai Gate close to Assam. Besides, the report of Nagaland government issuing land pattas inside Assam created an atmosphere of fear and apprehension among the people residing in those areas.

Recently, the Assistant Conservator of Forest, Karbi Anglong, Prahlad Kro along with a team of Assam Police visited the disturbed area; and noticed substantial destruction of areas inside the Daldali Reserve Forest bordering Nagaland. The team also noted that several border pillars were missing and many unscrupulous elements were engaged in clearing of forest in the area holding land pattas (land registration certificates) issued by the Nagaland government.

Briefing the media, the Karbi Anglong district secretary of AJYCP, Jitu Phukan said, "We are not imposing blockade against the Naga people; but we are protesting against the failure of the Sarbananda Sonowal-led Assam Government in fulfilling their pre-poll promise of safeguarding 'jati', 'mati' and 'bheti' of the Assamese people. The government has also failed to address the decades-long inter-State boundary issues. We demand that the State Government must take cognizance of the prevailing situation and bring about a permanent solution to the boundary issues at the earliest."

"It is very unfortunate that the Nagaland government has issued land pattas in the Rilan Basti area which falls within Assam. Moreover, some unscrupulous elements abetted by the Nagaland administration and Nagaland IRBn, have demolished several border pillars and cleared vast portions of the Daldali Reserve Forest under Karbi Anglong. It has been also seen that the Nagaland administration is carrying out electrification work besides using earth movers for construction of roads into the area," said KSA secretary, ThansingTimung.

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