GUWAHATI, Jan 28 - The police forces of the districts having interstate border with Nagaland have been alerted to take adequate precautionary measures following the recent incident of violence in Dima Hasao district, while, the situation in the hill district is now under control after deployment of security reinforcements.
Talking to The Assam Tribune, Director General of Assam Police, Mukesh Sahay admitted that rumour mongering is causing more problems and said that the police forces deployed on the ground have been directed to take strong action against anyone found to be involved in spreading rumours and false propaganda to create law and order problems.
On the situation in the hill district, Sahay said that reinforcements have been sent to the district and senior officials including the Additional Director General of Police (Law and order) have been camping in the district to monitor the situation, which is now under control. He said that the stranded passengers have been brought to Guwahati amidst tight security.
The DGP pointed out that time and again, the Union Home Minister has been assuring that the geographical boundaries of any state of the region would not be affected following the signing of an accord with the rebel groups of Nagaland, while, the Assam Chief Minister also made it clear on a number of times that the territory of Assam would not be affected. Even after such assurances from the Union Home Minister and the Chief Minister, some people are spreading rumours that territory of Assam would be included in Nagalim, which created apprehensions in the minds of the people. The situation in Dima Hasao escalated after groups of people started protesting on the basis of some reports appearing in a section of the media that the hill district would be included in Nagalim.
Sahay said that only a thorough investigation would reveal the truth and the persons involved in spreading of rumours could be brought to book. �Our primary job was to bring the situation under control. At the same time, investigations are on and with the situation now under control, the police would be able to concentrate on the investigation to take action against the persons involved in instigating the people with false propaganda,� he added.
The DGP said that the police has the video footage of the incident of police firing in Maibang. He said that the Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police went to the area to talk to the people who were agitating. But instead of talking to the officers, some agitators started pelting stones. Police first tried to bring the situation under control with use of non lethal weapons but afterwards, they were forced to open fire when the situation went totally out of control. A thorough probe will bring out the real facts, he added. He also admitted that even today, rumours are creating serious problems as only this morning, some people spread rumours that a hundred hour bandh was called. However, police managed to scuttle the rumour, he said.
Sahay said that the possibility of miscreants and persons with vested interest trying to create problems in other districts having border with Nagaland by spreading rumours cannot be ruled out and that is why, the police forces in all those districts have been directed to remain alert and take immediate action against rumour mongers.
