161 people killed in Assam by Nagaland miscreants since 1972

Guwahati, Mar 4: At least 161 people have been killed and another 171 injured across Assam in attacks by miscreants from Nagaland since 1972.

In a written reply to a query by AIUDF MLA Aminul Islam, State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Rockybul Hussain said 161 people have been killed in attacks by Naga miscreants in four districts since 1972.

Hussain, who replied on behalf of Border Areas Minister Girindra Mallik, said 136 persons lost their lives and 166 people were injured in Golaghat district in 9 attacks since 1977.

It is followed by Sivasagar district, where 19 people were killed in 12 attacks that took place between 1972 and 2013, he added. Hussain said 3 persons were killed and 5 injured in 2 attacks in Karbi Anglong district in 2004 and 2014 respectively.

In Jorhat district, miscreants from the neighbouring state attacked twice and killed 3 persons in 1982 and 2013, he added. Hussain also said a total of 59,159.77 hectares of Assam land are at present under encroachment of Nagaland. In Golaghat, 36,013.48 hectares have been occupied by Nagaland, he added. It is followed by illegal occupation of 18,871.29 hectares in Jorhat and 4,275 hectares in Sivasagar, Hussain said.

Talking about the steps taken by the government to deal with the situation, the Minister said, "Talks are being held periodically with local administration of Nagaland and Border Peace Coordination Committee has been formed to maintain peace in these areas."

Whenever encroachers tried to occupy Assam land, they were pushed back from the border and Nagaland administration was informed so that such incidents did not recur, he said. "Assam has filed a case in the Supreme Court regarding encroachment by Nagaland and sought a permanent solution to Nagaland's constitutional boundary issue," Hussain said.

PTI