EMN
Mariani, January 24
In an attempt to ease border skirmishes and instill a sense of security amongst the people of Alongtaki assembly constituency of Nagaland and Mariani assembly constituency of Assam, the elected public representatives of both the bordering constituencies Dr. Benjongliba Aier and Rupjyoti Kurmi held an informal meeting at Mariani today at the residence of the Coordinator of the Border Peace Coordination Committee (Assam-Nagaland).
The meeting assumes great significance as the constituencies witnessed border skirmishes for the past couple of years the most prominent being reported during May 2013 where an innocent civilian one Sanjay Bhumij from Naganijan Tea Estate got killed by unknown miscreants from across the border thus prompting almost war like situation between the people of Nagaland and Assam resulting road blockades on the highways leading to Nagaland by its counterpart.
Ao Senden (Ao Hoho) the apex body of the Aos from the Mokokchung district was compelled to impose a ban on all transactions with Assam which have later been supported by the other frontal Naga organisations and issued travel advisory for the safety of its natives at large.
Due to lack of coordinated efforts and political interferences, the BPCC(A-N) toiled almost six months to bring the involved parties to negotiating table and establish peaceful coexistence to date.
During last year, the people of Yajang were doing Jhum Kheti in their traditional Jhumland which is adjacent to Rankham village of Assam. A section of people from Rankham village who encroached Yajang’s Jhumland for tea plantation were not happy and they mobilized Rankham public to obstruct the Yajang Naga villagers for carrying out the Jhum cultivation.
This resulted in deployment of heavy police armed personnel by Assam government in order to stop the Naga cultivators which led to irritating the border situation to a great extent.
Both the public representatives discussed the foregoing issues in depth and vowed to educate the public of either side not to take laws in to their hands but to report any kind of situation to the authority concerned for peaceful redressal.
They also endorsed applause for the yeoman services being rendered continuously in this border belt by the BPCC (A-N) since its inception in 2005. They also discussed the recent uneasiness in Rankham area where some tea plantations owned by one Badan Gogoi were reportedly destructed by unknown miscreants in the wee hours on January 22.
It may be recalled that even in the foregoing years, a few incidents of such calibers were reported in the same area thereby causing mistrust amongst the border living people. Both the representatives were in the opinion that certain vested interested section of the society are behind all these who do not vouch for peaceful coexistence in this border area which is otherwise very peaceful.
The statements of both the representatives are quite significant. In order to have a meaningful bonding, the “Gabroo Fest-2016” is being proposed at Gabharo. The proposed Gabharoo Festivity-2016 contemplates to extend the celebration covering both Hills and Plains and this is expected to enhance the mission of the Border Peace Coordination Committee (A-N) as the BPCC (A-N) is of the opinion that Sports and Cultural assimilations of the bordering people will be effective ways of peace coordination.
Thus, in order to uphold the Gabharoo Tourism Festivity Project for brokering peace, Dr. Benjongliba Aier, Parliamentary Secretary and MLA of Alongtaki Assembly constituency of Nagaland and Rupjyoti Kurmi, the Parliamentary Secretary (Power) and MLA of 101-Mariani Assembly constituency will be Patrons in this proposed Gabharoo Festivity-2016.
At the end of this maiden meet of the legislators, they sent out a strong message to the bordering masses to live mutually with dignity and shun all sort of violence at all cost. They also hoped that the year will go by with peaceful coexistence, blessings and prosperity.
