Assam and Nagaland agree to maintain neutrality in border areas

Dimapur, Sep. 25 (EMN): Assam and Nagaland on Friday discussed several important issues pertaining to the inter-state border areas, disputed area belt (DAB), and provisions of the special operating procedure (SOP) for deployment of CAPFs in DAB along the Assam- Nagaland border, and decided to maintain neutrality.

The issues were discussed at the chief secretary-level meeting of the two states at Rhododendron conference hall of the Central Police Officers’ Mess, Police Complex, Chümoukedima, Dimapur, on September 25, a DIPR report stated.

The report stated that Nagaland Chief Secretary Temjen Toy and the Director General of Police (DGP) T John Longkumer stressed on the need to maintain neutrality by the central forces and other security forces of Assam in the disputed area belt and also not to take any unilateral action which might create misunderstanding.

It stated that matter regarding the constraints existing in the present SOP from the view point of Nagaland was also brought up and was impressed upon for taking suitable corrective measures.

Assam Chief Secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna, Additional Chief Secretary (home) Jishnu Barua, DGP Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta and other officials also brought up the need for having joint patrolling by the security forces of both the states in the disputed area belt. They also suggested holding border meetings on a regular basis between the concerned DCs, SPs, and the border magistrates of the two states so that any issue or situation developing anywhere could be sorted out amicably.

It was agreed by everyone that there should be regular communication among the senior officials of both the states to look into the border matters. It was also felt that SPs of the bordering districts of the two states should further strengthen the system of co-ordination and co-operation so that prompt action could be taken against criminal and anti-social activities in the border areas.

It also decided to encourage frequent sports and cultural exchanges between the people of the two states living in the border areas.

The meeting concluded with the Nagaland chief secretary expressing his appreciation to his counterparts from Assam for taking the initiative to hold the meeting after six years. He further suggested holding such meetings at regular intervals in the coming years.

Besides the chief secretary and additional chief secretary (home) and DGP, team from Assam included SDGP (Border) Mukesh Agarwal, senior officials, deputy commissioners and superintendents of police of Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao, Golaghat, Sivasagar, Jorhat and Charaideo. The team from Nagaland comprised of the principal secretary (Home) Abhijit Sinha, ADG (L&O) Renchamo P Kikon, senior officials of the state along with the deputy commissioners and superintendents of police of Mon, Longleng, Mokokchung, Wokha, Dimapur and Peren, besides the chief secretary and DGP.