Assam-Nagaland border calm after Centre intervenes

The situation in trouble-torn Golaghat District, along the Assam-Nagaland border, is gradually returning to normal.

While stringent security continues to remain in place, the two state governments have agreed to work together to rehabilitate the affected people and resolve the border dispute as soon as possible.

There have been no fresh incidents of violence and curfew has been relaxed in Golaghat District.

Security continues to remain tight in the border area, with round the clock patrolling and Army flag march.

Meanwhile, the Chief Ministers of Assam and Nagaland have agreed to resolve the long pending border issues by setting up a joint mechanism, following a meeting with Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju in Guwahati.

Both the state governments have assured that they will be working together to resolve the issue and restore peace in the disputed border area.

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Chief Minister of Assam, Tarun Gogoi said, "We want to appeal to the people. Please come to the negotiating table if you have any differences. Whatever differences you have, you can resolve it through democratic and peaceful means. Don't take law into your hands."

Nagaland Chief Minister T R Zeliang also said, "We have assured that all the Assamese people living in Nagaland will be protected by my government. There will be no insecurity or intimidation or threat to the people of Assam living in Nagaland and the Assam Chief Minister has assured that the people from Nagaland living in Assam will be protected."

The two sides have agreed to meet frequently and work jointly to defuse the tension and build confidence among the people living along the border.

Enquiry committees have been constituted to look into the incident and 15 people have been apprehended in Nagaland.

Meanwhile, the Union Minister has appealed to the agitators not to resort to economic blockade that causes inconvenience to the people.

Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, explained, "The Assam government and the Nagaland government have already taken a resolution that the affected families who have been displaced because of the situation will be taken care of respectively because the effect is on both sides. People out of panic had left their houses in Nagaland side as well as Assam side. And they are going to take care of that."

"The joint mechanism that has been worked out will deal with that subject effectively. I would like to appeal the agitators not to fuel the issue further when both the state government have come together and taken a resolution to solve the issue," he added.

On August 12, some miscreants from Nagaland raided the villages along the inter-state border and gunned down tribal villagers from Assam.

More than a dozen people have been killed in the violence since then.

An estimated 10,000 people from 13 villages in the area, who had to leave their houses following the clashes, are currently seeking shelter in 12 relief camps at Uriamghat and Sarupothar.

Affected families are hoping for an early settlement of the issue.

Arup, a victim of the violence said, "We want that they should find a solution and we should be sent back home. Both the governments should take a decision to ensure our peaceful return to our homes."

Several student organizations in Assam have held protests demanding for the immediate rehabilitation of the affected families and better security along the border area.

The central government has assured all possible help to the two states for the effective and fast resolution of the border dispute.