Doyang Citizen’s Forum (DCF), Golaghat Assam, Kyong Hoho (KH) and Kyong Students’ Union (KSU) held a joint co-ordination meeting along with Border Magistrates of Merapani and Golaghat, commandant 142 BN CRPF and Merapani CRPF Sector Commander at 142 BN CRPF Camp Merapani to discuss Merapani incident, August 22.
According to KH joint secretary Benathung Humtsoe and KSU president Subenthung Kithan both the parties expressed their views to restore normalcy at Merapani to maintain peace and tranquillity in the entire border area between Wokha and Golaghat Districts, to avoid and protect such eventualities in the near future. They also urged both the governments of Assam and Nagaland to arrest and award stringent/befitting punishment to those perpetrators involved in manhandling six Lothas and destroying properties of one Y. Lotha of Merapani Village.
The KH chairman, Yansathung Jami however told Nagaland Post over phone that the meeting was inconclusive as Kyong Hoho rejected a proposal from Assam to call off the bandh. KH said it had received a proposal from Assam side to call off the “peaceful bandh”, but it refused as the issue was too “pre-mature” to make any resolution. However, both the sides decided to have another meeting to defuse the situation, KH added. Meanwhile, the Lotha Lower Range Students’ Union has demanded for construction of road via Dimapur at the earliest and deployment of NAP or security forces with full strength at Bhandari.