Tension has heightened around Ralan area after a spate of incidents beginning on July 25 evening, when around a hundred Advasis, armed with bows and arrows, went near a Naga village and fired blank shots in the air.
It was also reported, that on July 26 Naga villagers of the area, retaliated by damaging one Adivasi thatched house.
There were several reports that could not be independently verified since the district authorities and police of Wokha could not be contacted despite several attempts.
According to reports, on July 27 border magistrates from Assam rushed to the village and recovered an extortion demand served by an outfit on the Adivasi village.
It was also reported, that Adivasis alleged that two of their people were allegedly kidnapped by some miscreants on June 27.
According to sources, the DCs of Golaghat and Wokha including border magistrates and police are scheduled to hold a joint meeting at Rengmapani Monday morning.
When contacted for confirmation, sources from Ralan area said they would wait for response from authorities of both Golaghat and Wokha before issuing any statement.
It may be recalled, that during the month of February 2012, the conflict in the particular area arose between Mekirang village under Bhandari sub-division and Gaur Basti, an Adivasi village. Mekirang village, comprising of Lothas and Karbis is located near Gaur Basti under Golaghat district.
Mekirang village, about 4 ½ kms from Merapani CRPF Camp towards Nagapath, was first established in 1920 by Karbis under permission of Longchum village. When the village disbanded after a while, the lands went back to Longchum village.
Adivasis of Gaur Basti were permitted to till the land but later refused to pay annual tax for land used for cultivation that fell under Mekirang village. Kyong organisations had accused “third parties” of instigating the Adivasis to refuse paying tax.
Ralan area people have maintained that the area does not fall under a disputed area unlike other places and therefore, were averse to terming it as incidents due to dispute.
What had added a new dimension to the conflict was the alleged involvement of All Adivasi National Liberation Army (AANLA) which, reportedly has some training camps in the area.
During mid August 2012, several organisations from Golaghat had threatened to impose economic blockade to protest against alleged encroachment on 250 bighas of land by Nagaland.
DCs of Golaghat and Wokha held a series of meetings last year to quell violence but Nagas alleged, that Assam Police with cooperation of neutral forces, have been instigating the Adivasis to become belligerent.
It may also be pointed out that scores of Adivasis including immigrants have been settled along the disputed areas between the two states as a policy to form a wedge.
JD (U) appeals :
Meanwhile, Nagaland JD (U) office bearers led by its president Mhonjan Lotha, spokesperson Sushil Kumar Deshpande visited Ralan area on July 26 in order to acquaint themselves with the ground reality, following the June 25 incident that led to spiralling of the situation.
The team met with the border magistrate and SDPO of Bhandari and Surbhodar and also deputy commandant of the 155 CRPF.
JD (U) has appealed to farmers of both sides to respect each other’s tradition and culture and extend cooperation with administration and police of both Golaghat and Wokha.
They also urged upon the public in the area against spreading propaganda and false reports that could only further vitiate the volatile atmosphere.
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