GUWAHATI: Leader of the Opposition in the Assam Legislative Assembly, Debabrata Saikia has urged Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to hold urgent discussions with his Nagaland counterpart under the Central Government mediation to resolve the inter-state boundary dispute issue, with particular reference to the inter-state border under Nazira sub-division.
In a letter issued on Tuesday, Saikia mentioned that via correspondence dated May 23 and June 5, 2020, he had alerted the Chief Minister about large-scale encroachment in the Gelakey Reserve Forest area by miscreants from across the inter-state. The encroachment had taken place with the active assistance of the Nagaland Government. The encroachers had not only destroyed tea bushes planted by small tea growers of Assam in the area, but also set up a makeshift check-gate to prevent movement of people from this side of the border.
Saikia said that the local people were living in fear and uncertainty, with many persons losing their means of livelihood due to the encroachment. Apart from immediate measures such as creation of more border outposts, deployment of additional security forces and appointment of a permanent Border Magistrate in the area, Saikia urged the Chief Minister to send a team led by the Minister in-charge of border security, the DGP and the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) to take stock of the situation on the inter-state border.
He further mentioned that with a view to resolving the Nagalim issue, the Prime Minister was reaching out even to Naga people who are settled abroad. Consequently, Saikia said, it would be unfair to neglect the inter-state border dispute. He urged the Chief Minister to urgently negotiate a settlement which would protect Assam's interests, stated a release.
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