Nagaland hints on tough stand over inter-state border row with Asom

Guwahati, Nov 27 (UNI) Boundary disputes between Asom and Nagaland would need special handling as Nagaland was formed as per political negotiations and its borders could not be marked in a routine exercise.

This was the stand mooted by Nagaland Deputy Secretary and ex-officio Director of Border Affairs L Linsong, who attended the first hearing of the local commission on inter-state boundary dispute between Asom, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland here today.

The three-member commission, headed by retired Supreme Court Justice S N Variava, included retired Additional Surveyor General of India R P Goel and retired Chief Conservator of Forests (Andhra Pradesh) Kamal Naidu.

The Commission had been formed by the Supreme Court earlier this year, with a one-year term, on the basis of a petition filed by Asom against Nagaland and Arunachal in 1988 and 1989 respectively, alleging encroachment of Asom land by the neighbouring states.

Several districts of Asom, including Jorhat, Golaghat and Sivasagar, share the boundary with Nagaland, and there had been bloody skirmishes over border dispute between the neighbouring states.

Mr Linsong informed that Nagaland would not be placing its arguments in this sitting. ''The commission will hold preliminary hearing for Nagaland in January next year at Dimapur in Nagaland, where we will place our case and also hear arguments from Asom,'' he added.

He pointed out that Nagaland was formed as per political negotiations and its boundary with the neighbouring states could not be drawn as in other cases.

Mr Linsong, however, added that the state would abide by the provisions of the Constitution and co-operate for early resolution this two-decade old dispute. The boundary row between Asom and Nagaland would need ''tactful handling'' as Nagaland claims land in Asom territory on historical background, while Asom has land records proving the disputed areas as its own.

Mr Linsong said, ''We have written to the Commission earlier to extend time in our case as the officials of the concerned departments were assigned to earlier works.'' The order for the formation of the local commission was delayed as Nagaland did not respond to a September 2004 order from the apex court, asking the three states to file undertakings to co-operate with the proposed commission.

With the court setting a deadline, Nagaland finally filed the affidavit on September 25.

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