Tension runs high along Asom-Nagaland border

Kohima, February 20 (UNI) Tension prevailed at Anaki village in Mokokchung district along the Asom-Nagaland border two days after a team of Assom Police personnel allegedly, burnt down a few houses and detained six villagers.

The police personnel intruded the village, which Nagaland claims falls well within its territory, in the morning hours when the villagers were attending church services and took six villagers in their custody before retreating.

The police team then returned at about 1600 hrs and threatened the villagers with dire consequences before setting fire to the houses. According to the sources, the Police team was not accompanied by any border magistrates.

The fate of the six villagers detained by the police personnel was not known, as of now.

It was also learnt that in retaliation of the "unlawful act" by Asom police personnel, the Anaki villagers took 48 Assamese people from the adjoining village as hostage, out of which 28 were later released. The fate of 20 others could not be known.

Meanwhile, sources said Deputy Commissioner of Mokokchung had sent a strong protest note to his counterpart in Sibsagar district of Asom and asked him, along with Superintendent of Police, Sibsagar, to reach Mokokchung for a discussion on the incident today.

UNI