Morung Express News
Dimapur | February 18
The Karbi Anglong police, Assam, have debunked a misleading message about businesses in Karbi Anglong, bordering Nagaland’s Dimapur district, shutting down on account of a rumoured killing. The message, which started circulating on social media on February 17, had generated apprehension, as well as confusion, among the communities living on the inter-state border. Rustom Basumatary, the SDPO of Karbi Anglong’s Bokajan Sub-division, bordering Dimapur, debunked the rumour as “an old and false message.”
He told The Morung Express on February 18 that there was no incident nor anyone was killed.
He said that there was an incident on February 15 at Kheroni, located in the West Karbi Anglong district in which 7 youths were injured. It was a stone-pelting and alleged assault incident linked to a land rights dispute. Around 17 persons were subsequently arrested by the police.
Apprehending the trouble spreading, prohibitory orders under CrPC 144 was also promulgated in the other Karbi Anglong district on February 16. It prohibited the picketing of public offices and procession in public spaces by forming an assembly of 5 or more people, carrying of weapons, firecrackers, inflammatory speeches and displays, besides use of loudspeakers without permission.
He added that the February 15 incident in Kheroni erupted after one community submitted a memorandum to the President of India, demanding land holding rights within the “Public Grazing Reserve/Village Grazing Reserve” in the Kheroni area. This was protested by another, culminating in the February 15 clash at Kheroni Bazaar.
It led to more organisations chalking out protest programmes. “In view of the situation, the District Administration promulgated section 144 of CrPC” and security patrolling was intensified to prevent any law and order situation, said the SDPO. He reiterated that no bandh call was given by anyone.
Nevertheless, the weekly Sunday Bazaar at the Dillai gate, just across the border from Dimapur, did not open as usual on the Assam side on February 18. “The traders did not turn up believing that today (Sunday) was bandh,” said the SDPO. Those who did turn up set up shop on the Nagaland side.
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