Economic blockade chokes supply of essentials to Nagaland

Guwahati, July 7 (UNI) Supply of essential commodities to Nagaland was severely affected following the indefinite economic blockade launched by student organisations, including the AASU and AJYCP, in Sivasagar district of Upper Asom.

The blockade was imposed to protest against the mayhem triggered by Naga rebels in the border-lying Asom villages on July 5.

Official sources said the Sonari-Namtula, Simoluguri-Bihubor, Geleky and Amguri-Tuli roads, which connects the Sivasagar district with Mon and Mukokchung districts of Nagaland, were blocked since yesterday.

Loaded trucks were stranded at various places along the road, while those plying from Nagaland side were forced to go back.

As almost all the essential commodities to some districts of Nagaland like Mukokchung, Mon and Tuengchung are supplied through Sivasagar and Jorhat districts, the blockade is likely to hit the neighbouring state.

Meanwhile, Asom ministers -- Prithivi Majhi and Pranab Gogoi -- today visited the Geleky area and took stock of the situation.

The ministers assured all possible steps for adequate security of the border-lying villages.

The state government also decided to set up a border observation post at Sonapur village, one of the villages raided by Naga rebels.

Chief secretary PC Sarma informed a delegation of student organisations that the government would be immediately setting up a temporary post, which later would be made permanent.

Meanwhile, in a statement, the Pradesh Congress Committee condemned the incident and said the governments of Asom and Nagaland should sort out the decades-long border dispute through negotiations.

Three persons were killed and several others injured when Naga raiders barged into three Asom villages in the district on July 5 night, torching houses, killing cattle and assaulting villagers.

The raid continued for hours, forcing the villagers to flee the area. The incident had escalated the simmering tension again in this stretch of boundary, which had remained disputed for the past four decades.

The border had been a bone of contention between Asom and Nagaland, ever since the latter was carved out.

Sporadic incidents of encroachments, attacks, extortion and threats are frequently reported from all the six sectors of the Asom-Nagaland border, particularly in the three districts of Golaghat, Jorhat and Sivasagar.

Asom claims that over 1.6 lakh acres of land had been illegally encroached by Nagaland. The latter on its part asserts that the tracts belong to it 'historically and traditionally'.

More than three inter-state border commissions had failed to resolve the vexed dispute till date, while a panel appointed by the Supreme Court is currently looking into the matter.

UNI