LLRPO Secretary calls for restraint and responsible reporting after border clash

Morung Express News
Wokha | August 28

The Lotha Lower Range Public Organisation (LLRPO) Joint Secretary Zathungo Yanthan has detailed the sequence of events during the August 26 confrontation at Negheribil, a disputed area along the Assam-Nagaland border.

Yanthan said the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police of Wokha were scheduled to visit the disputed area on August 26 for an on-the-spot assessment. He said the LLRPO was invited through the Border Magistrate to attend a meeting with the officials and that he was officially deputed by the organisation to represent it.

Yanthan said while he was travelling towards the area, he reached the location where the Assam Forest Department had erected a barricade. He said a large crowd had gathered there and was obstructing movement, following which he stopped his vehicle by the roadside to see what was happening.

According to Yanthan, the chairmen of the Longayim and Lio Longchum Village Councils subsequently arrived from the Merapani side for the same meeting.

He alleged that soon after their arrival, a commotion broke out and the two village council chairmen were bullied, hit and manhandled.

Yanthan said he went towards the spot and attempted to pacify the situation. However, he alleged that members of the crowd began accusing him of being involved in the previous night’s incident.

He denied the allegation, saying he was at Negheribil on August 26 in an official capacity to ascertain the ground reality before making any statement on behalf of the apex organisation.

Yanthan further alleged that he was also manhandled. He said that although he became angry at one point, he maintained maximum restraint for the sake of peace between the two communities.

He said the situation became increasingly tense and dangerous, describing the presence of a large crowd as a situation where “anything can happen.”

Yanthan acknowledged the presence of Assam Police at the spot and said the personnel did their best to control the situation, although he felt they were also helpless at one point.

He further alleged that while attempting to record the incident as evidence, his mobile phone was snatched away. According to Yanthan, he tried to hold on to the phone but was unable to do so because of the number of people around him.

He said Assam Police personnel subsequently searched for the phone, retrieved it and handed it back to him.

On conflicting versions
Responding to conflicting accounts emerging from the Assam and Nagaland sides, Yanthan said it was unfortunate that information could become one-sided or fabricated.

Referring specifically to the allegations against Longayim chairman Wochothung Yanthan, whom he said is also known as Hussain Lotha, he said claims that the chairman had come to the area to attack someone with a sharp weapon were allegations that needed to be treated as such.

Yanthan expressed concern that people away from the ground situation may not know what actually happened and could be influenced by incomplete information.

He appealed to the media fraternity to exercise responsibility while reporting on the sensitive border issue, saying unverified information could further create enmity between Naga and Assamese communities.

Calls for serious government intervention
On preventing further confrontations at Negheribil, Yanthan said the Assam and Nagaland governments need to seriously address the issue.

He said the absence of a proper demarcation of the Assam-Nagaland boundary makes it difficult to maintain neutrality whenever a fresh dispute arises.

According to Yanthan, serious understanding and negotiation between the two governments are necessary to resolve the problem.

On action against those involved
Yanthan said he initially filed an FIR against the alleged lawbreakers but later decided to withdraw it in the interest of peace.

He said that, as a leader of an apex organisation, he has to remain responsible and consider the cascading effect of every decision.

Yanthan said withdrawing the FIR was a decision taken to maintain peace and preserve the brotherhood between Assamese and Naga communities.

He stressed that the two communities live as neighbours and cannot simply separate from one another.

“There will be some clashes here and there; it is very natural,” Yanthan said, while maintaining that such differences can be resolved if responsible organisations exercise restraint and work towards peace.

He appealed for a reciprocal approach from the other side as well, saying his decision was taken in the interest of peace and to prevent the issue from escalating further.