GUWAHATI, Nov 15 � The causes of depredation perpetrated by hooligans from Nagaland on the Assamese people inhabiting over 400 villages bordering Nagaland were discussed at length by the members of Guwahati Senior Citizens� Association (GSCA) at its meeting held today under the presidentship of DN Chakravartty.
The association attributed the main cause of such aggressive behaviour of a section of Naga people to the emergence of a new group of wealthy people in Nagaland who were now looking towards leading a modern life in the plains areas.
Initiating the discussion, Chakravartty said that even during the Ahom rule, several Naga tribes used to torment the Assamese people, but the steps of reprisal taken by the powerful kings such as Gadadhar Singha forced the Naga depredators to take to their heels.
Chakravartty said that the short-sighted policy of the Assam Government right from the days of Bimala Prasad Chaliha, who thoughtlessly handed over Dimapur to Nagaland � together with the posting of corrupt and inefficient officers in the border areas � was responsible for the growth of Naga hooliganism over the last five decades.
GSCA members Durga Charan Choudhury, Haricharan Doley, Khanindra Chandra Das, Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, Uttam Baruah, Jagat Chandra Bora and Kanika Bardoloi suggested that a delegation from Assam comprising a few leading historians, journalists, former MPs, MLAs, and All Assam Students� Union (AASU) leaders should visit Kohima, Mokokchang, etc., and district headquarters of Nagaland to have a face-to-face discussion with the representatives of Naga people, especially the youth leaders, to bring about a permanent and amicable settlement of the border issue.
The association also demanded replacement of the present border security arrangement by entrusting the task of manning the Assam-Nagaland border to the Army.
Earlier, Tabiul Hussain dwelt on the activities of the association during recent times, while Abani Kumar Sarma presented the accounts.
The association also appealed to the elderly people of Assam to guide the general public, especially the illiterate ones, not to fall easy prey to the false propaganda of fictitious financial institutions.
