Mokokchung and Jorhat reaffirm border status quo, agree on joint verification of disputed area to strengthen coordination and peace.
MANGKOLEMBA — Deputy Commissioners of Mokokchung and Jorhat on Friday reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining the status quo along the Assam-Nagaland border as agreed during the chief secretaries' meeting on July 31, 2021, while deciding to jointly verify a disputed village area within the next seven days.
The assurance came during a DC-level border coordination meeting between the two districts held at the additional deputy commissioner's office in Mangkolemba.
The meeting resolved that both sides would refrain from undertaking any new activities or construction that could violate the existing status quo in the Disputed Area Belt (DAB) adjoining Aosenden village in Mokokchung district.
In another key decision, the two district administrations agreed that their respective border magistrates would conduct a joint verification of the Aokum village area within the next seven days.
To strengthen coordination, both administrations resolved to maintain regular communication and promptly exchange details of newly transferred border magistrates and police officers. They also agreed that prior intimation should be given for any official visits or activities in the border areas, with due consideration to local sensitivities, including the observance of Sundays in Nagaland.
The Assam-Nagaland DAB extends about 512.1 km, including stretches along Golaghat, Jorhat and Sivasagar districts in Assam. Mokokchung district shares its border with Jorhat and Sivasagar districts.
The Mokokchung delegation was led by Deputy Commissioner Ajit Kumar Verma and Senior Superintendent of Police Vusupreo Kezo, while the Jorhat delegation was headed by Deputy Commissioner Jay Shivani and Superintendent of Police Shubrajyoti.
Representatives of bordering villages from both states also attended the meeting, during which border magistrates from Nagaland and Assam presented issues relating to the border areas.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Verma said that the discussions were aimed at strengthening coordination between the two districts and resolving issues at the village, local and district levels to ensure peace along the border.
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"This is the first time such a meeting has been held at the Mangkolemba office. The discussions were very constructive," he said, while thanking his Jorhat counterpart for agreeing to hold the meeting there.
Shivani said that the two districts already maintain regular coordination, including daily interaction between Border Magistrates.
"We have resolved that border magistrates should remain in constant touch and organise meetings and other activities to maintain harmony between communities on both sides," he said.
Describing the meeting as fruitful, Shivani informed that such coordination meetings would continue to be held whenever necessary to prevent disputes from escalating.
Both deputy commissioners expressed confidence that sustained coordination would help strengthen peaceful relations between border communities and contribute to the development of both states.