Assam-Nagaland Border Row: Did NSCN cadres abduct tea labourers from Assam?

JORHAT: Tensions have again flared up at the volatile Assam-Nagaland border region at Mariani, where suspected NSCN cadres have been accused of making off with tea labourers from Assam's side of the border after making threats.

According to reports, armed NSCN insurgents abducted Narayan Gogoi -- a tea garden plucker at the Lakhijan tea farm -- while he was working in the middle of the day on Friday. He was reportedly taken into the denser areas of the Tiru Hills forest that lies on the border. He was later released in the evening.

Eyewitnesses said that around 40-50 people -- suspected to be NSCN cadres -- had crossed from the Nagaland side of the border.

In another incident in the same area, a youth named Prakash Pantati, survived an abduction attempt (reportedly by the NSCN cadres) when he jumped off a hill. The youth, hailing from Selenghat Gohainbari, claimed that armed militants had even threatened to kill him.

"I had gone to fetch water when they dragged me and asked me to go with them. They threatened to shoot me when I resisted. They were drunk and dragged me off regardless despite my protestations," Pantati said.

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Police officials from Teok and Selenghat did reach the spot to conduct an inquiry, but tensions are said to be running high still amid reports of NSCN cadres' aggression.

It needs mention here that Assam and Nagaland have decided to withdraw their forces from their common border. The decision in this regard was arrived at the meeting of the Chief Secretaries of Assam and Nagaland amid Assam's row with another Northeastern state -- Mizoram.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced de-escalation of tension of the State’s border with Nagaland and said that an understanding has been reached to immediately withdraw States’ forces from border locations.

“In a major breakthrough towards de-escalating tensions at Assam-Nagaland border, the two Chief Secretaries have arrived at an understanding to immediately withdraw States’ forces from border locations to their respective base camps,” Sarma said on Twitter.

“This is a historic step in our relations. My gratitude to HCM Sri @Neiphiu_Rio for working with #Assam in restoring peace on the border. Assam is committed to ensuring peace along all its borders & strives for social & economic prosperity of #NorthEast region,” added Sarma.

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