LLRPO condemns alleged assault of village chairmen in Assam-Nagaland DAB, seeks action and safer passage for farmers through Foothills Road
DIMAPUR — The Lotha Lower Range Public Organisation (LLRPO) has demanded swift action from the authorities concerned after two village council chairmen and one of its office bearers were allegedly assaulted in the Disputed Area Belt (DAB).
In a press release issued on Sunday, the organisation stated that Wochothung Yanthan, chairman of Longayim Village Council, and Ezanthung Tsopoe, chairman of Lio-Longchum Village Council, along with an LLRPO office bearer, were allegedly physically assaulted and harassed while travelling in the area.
It stated that a joint FIR had been filed by the chairmen of Longayim, Lio-Longchum and Mekirang villages in connection with the incident.
The LLRPO appealed to the authorities of Assam and Nagaland to work together to ensure a safe environment for farmers operating in the DAB areas, while urging that no individual or group be allowed to take the law into their own hands.
The organisation asserted that disputes concerning land, boundaries or administration should be addressed through dialogue, documentation and due process rather than physical confrontation or intimidation.
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Assam–Nagaland border: LLRPO alleges assault on village council leaders
The LLRPO also linked the incident to the recent tripartite agreement involving the governments of Assam and Nagaland and the government of India concerning the DAB areas, saying the people of the two states should be looking towards “peace, harmony, development and prosperity” rather than a return to past hostility.
It called upon law-enforcement authorities to identify, apprehend and prosecute those responsible for the alleged assault, warning that impunity could encourage further violence and undermine efforts to establish peace in the region.
The organisation also urged Nagaland government to prioritise the Foothills Road, saying it would provide safer passage for farmers travelling to trade and help create a more secure environment for people living and working in the DAB areas.
The LLRPO appealed to ‘responsible sections of society’ not to be misled by propaganda or allow local sentiments to be exploited, stressing that any disputes should be resolved through government-to-government diplomacy and lawful mechanisms.
While reiterating its commitment to peaceful relations between Nagas and their neighbours, the organisation said peace should not be mistaken for weakness.
It warned that if those responsible were not brought to justice promptly, it would consult and mobilise Lotha frontal organisations and other Naga tribal organisations to demand protection, accountability and lawful action over what it described as repeated harassment and intimidation in the DAB areas.
The LLRPO expressed hope that authorities would act swiftly to prevent the incident from escalating into a wider confrontation, stressing that people on both sides of the Assam-Nagaland boundary deserved an environment based on mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and development.