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Construction of hut triggers tension along Assam-Nagaland border

By Staff Correspondent

JORHAT, Nov 11 - Tension mounted along the Assam-Nagaland border in Jorhat district after Nagaland government reportedly set up a hut in Disoi Valley Reserve Forest under Mariani Range of Jorhat Forest Division and deployed armed police personnel there.

When contacted, Jorhat Divisional Forest Officer Bidyut Borthakur said that a few days ago they received information about a temporary structure being set up in the Disoi Valley Reserve Forest along the Assam-Nagaland border and a team comprising police and forest officials of Jorhat district reached the site on Sunday and dismantled the structure and also seized some materials.

Borthakur said that after Jorhat district administration led by the Deputy Commissioner took up the matter with her Mokokchung (Nagaland) counterpart, officials of Jorhat and Mokokchung district administrations along with police and Forest Department officials held talks on Tuesday at the site where the structure put up by Nagaland side was dismantled on Sunday.

Borthakur, who was part of the Jorhat district team, said that the Mokokchung administration officials were asked not to put up any structure along the inter-State boundary in view of a Supreme Court order to maintain status quo by both the States till the dispute is resolved.

He said that the officials were told not to allow or carry out any activities in the border areas which could disturb peace and tranquillity.

The DFO said that the Jorhat district team was taken aback to see a hut being constructed by Nagaland administration about 200 metres away from the place where they were holding discussions. He said the hut having a capacity to house over 20 men, had Nagaland armed police personnel inside. The Jorhat team immediately objected to it and demanded removal of the same but the Mokokchung team refused to do so, the DFO said.

Borthakur said that the matter was reported to the Jorhat DC, who informed the same to the higher authorities in Dispur and also asked the Mokokchung administration to remove the hut. The DFO said on Wednesday a team led by Jorhat Superintendent of Police M Talukdar visited the spot and a temporary police camp was set up in the area in view of the prevailing situation.

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