AATTSA to continue with blockade of Nagaland

The All Assam Tea Tribes Students Association (AATTSA) today decided to continue with its week-long blockade of Nagaland and extended its blockade to Sivasagar district of upper Assam till the culprits responsible for the March 5 incident are arrested and handed over to Assam Police.

AATTSA has been blocking roads in Jorhat district since past one week to protest the attack on local people by suspected Naga youths at Naginijan Tea Estate at Mariani subdivision of the district on March 5.

AATTSA General Secretary Dheraj Gowola said that the blockade would now be extended to include the Amgoori-Mokokchang road in Sivasagar district.

He said the agitation would not be lifted unless the culprits responsible for the March 5 incident are arrested and handed over to Assam Police.

Four districts in northern Nagaland are facing severe shortage of essential commodities as vehicles carrying goods have been stranded in Jorhat district since past one week.

A meeting between officials of Assam and Nagaland was held yesterday at the Mariani College to resolve the impasse.

The meeting decided to book the culprits involved in violence at the Naginijan Tea Estate in the district.

Speaking after the meeting, Deputy Commissioner of Mokokchung district of Nagaland Lithrongla G Chishi said she has directed Mokokchung Superintendent of Police Sonia Singh to take steps against culprits immediately.

"Our main duty is to maintain law and order. We will take action against those involved in
the incident," Chishi said.

She further said that lack of a proper demarcation of the Assam-Nagaland border has led to such incidents.

Upper Assam Commissioner Syed Iftikar Hussain also attended the meeting and urged people from both the states to maintain peace.

An inter-state border peace committee was formed during the meeting. The committee will hold meeting on March 13 at the Naginijan Tea Estate.