Fresh tension grips Nagaland-Assam border area after Adivasi “illegal encroachers” from Assam armed with crude weapons chased away Mikirang villagers while they were working in their field at Tirang colony around 10 km from Bhandari sub-division, Wokha on June 5.

Talking to Nagaland Post over phone, Kyong Lower Range Students Union (KLRSU) president Lipemo Tsopoe Thursday said that around 20-30 Advasi “illegal encroachers” armed with daos and machete chased away the villagers, Self Help Group (SHG) of Mikirang village, while they were working at the “ancestral jhum field” at Tirang colony.

KLRSU president said that 12 women and six men including the village chairman working in the field fled to safety after the armed Advasi group chased them. “The situation at the village is becoming worse as the incident created fear psychosis to the villagers”, said KLRSU president.

According to reliable sources in Bhandari town, the situation was now under control. Meanwhile, border magistrates from Nagaland and Assam would be convening a meeting Thursday (June 8) at CRPF Camp, Merapani to discuss the issue. The meeting is likely to resolve the tension, the sources said.

Meanwhile, KLRSU in a statement, signed by its president Lipemo Tsopoe and general secretary Mhonchan Ngullie has requested the ADC Bhandari and Border magistrate Merapani under Bhandari sub-division to remain in their respective stations to control the prevailing situation.

Further extending its support to the memorandum relating to Nagaland-Assam boundary affairs addressed to the Governor of Nagaland by Naga Students’ Federation (NSF), KLRSU asserted that the memorandum was based on “genuine issue” faced by the people living in the border areas.