Tension grips Assam-Nagaland border after violence

Tension has gripped the Assam-Nagaland border since late Tuesday night when suspected Naga men fired indiscriminately and burnt villages on the Assam side, killing one person and injuring three others.

The incident took place in Uriamghat area in Assam's Golaghat district, police said, adding over 5,000 people living along the border have taken shelter in eight relief camps set up by the district administration after the incident.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi requested Home Minister Rajnath Singh for additional central paramilitary forces for deployment in the trouble-torn areas. The latter assured Gogoi of looking into his request.

The attackers opened fire on a group of people who were agitating in front of a CRPF camp and demanding release of two school students suspected to have been abducted by a Naga insurgent group. Later, they also burnt over 70 houses in five villages, triggering an exodus of people.

Gogoi has asked Chief Secretary Jitesh Khosla to take up the matter with his Nagaland counterpart and explore ways to defuse the tension.

On the chief minister's directive, Parliamentary Secretary (Home and Political) Etuwa Munda and Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order and in charge of Border) A.P. Rout are overseeing security measures in the affected areas. DIG (Central Range) P.C. Saloi is also camping there.

Opposition parties raised the issue in the assembly Wednesday. Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain assured the house that all measures have been taken to defuse the tension along the border.