IMPHAL, June 29: Deputy Chief Minister of Manipur, Gaikhangam strongly condemned the reported statement of Nagaland`™s Chief Minister TR Zeliang on the `Dzuko border dispute`™ and termed it as irresponsible and unbecoming of a Chief Minister of a State.
The deputy Chief Minister made this statement on the floor of the House while responding to a calling attention motion moved by Andro MLA, Th Shyamkumar, during the ongoing Assembly session.
It may be recalled that the Nagaland Chief Minister, rejected the proposal of his Manipur counterpart to solve the border row with the intervention of the Centre stating that it was a matter between two Naga communities.
TR Zeliang also reportedly suggested that the matter should be settled as per customary law.
Gaikhangam held that the suggestion to settle the present issue through customary law is totally inacceptable as the matter is about the inter-State boundary and added that the Nagaland Chief Minister has failed to realise that there is an established law of the land.
The statement of the TR Zeliang, his unwillingness to solve the matter with the intervention of the Centre, speaks for itself that their claim is illegitimate, opined Gaikhangam.
Nevertheless, the stance of the Manipur government remains unchanged and if required the issue will be pushed forward to the Centre, continued Gaikhangam.
Gaikhangam, who also holds the Home portfolio, informed the House that to instill a sense of security amongst the Mao public, an SDO office will be set up soon after the Assembly session.
At the same time, frequent patrolling will be carried at the disputed site by IRB personnel for which a company of 4 IRB have been deployed, he continued.
Gaikhangam further said that the government has taken up measures to accommodate students who have left Kohima and wishes to study in Imphal.
The SP Senapati, SDPO-Mao and OC Mao are frequently visiting the disputed Dzuko-Kozirii area along with civil administration to ensure that no encroachment/activities take place by the people of Nagaland, he continued.
Besides, the Superintendent of Police Senapati has requested the SP Kohima to take strict actions on the complaint registered by Mao people in different police station at Kohima, Gaikhangam told the House.
Clarifying on the charges brought up by the Andro MLA that the State government has been neglecting the issue, the Home Minister tabled a four-page long statement on the floor of the House.
It said that after getting information of the encroachment issue, a team led by SDO, Mao Maram and comprising of SDPO, Mao and representative of Mao Students Union (MSU), Mao council (MC) along with the convenor of the committee for Kozirii conducted inspection of Dzuko-Kozirii area on November 22, 2014.
The team observed encroachment on two sides-one extending 6km towards North-West Nagaland and another 4 km towards south from the entry point. The team also witnessed armed volunteer of Southern Angami Peoples Organisation (SAPO). Besides, the team also reported of construction of new roads and felling of trees and bamboos in the area, it said.
Further, the water of Isiiphi river, which marks the boundary between Manipur and Nagaland was also blocked illegally and diverting the water by the Angami people, thereby reducing the flow of water to large extent affecting flora and fauna of Dzuko valley in Manipur, it said.
Subsequently, the State wrote a letter to the Chief Secretary, Nagaland requesting to take up positive action for total stopping of road construction works insides territory of Manipur at the earliest.
It further said that the Chief Minister personally requested the Union Home Minister for timely intervention to issue directives to the Nagaland Government and bring early solution to the problem (on May 25, 2015) followed a letter to the Prime Minister of India (June 2, 2015) requesting to depute a team of officials from the MHA and office of the Director General of Survey of India to fix the correct points as per the boundary between Manipur and Nagaland in Dzuko-Kozuri area at the earliest.
The Chief Minister of Manipur also wrote to Nagaland`™s Chief Minister on June 2, 2015 and in response to that the TR Zeliang reportedly expressed his concern and informed Manipur that it had already entrusted the Naga Hoho to get in touch with the UNC for amicable settlement of the matter.
Both the groups are already holding talks and the outcome will be informed, and if this does not work out, the matter will be taken up at the official level, it claimed.
Against this backdrop, following reports of escalating tension between Mao community and SAPO to the extent of physical assault and quit notice served against Mao community, a joint meeting was arrange at the Khuzama check post between the district administrations of Senapati and Kohima as per the instruction of the cabinet, it said.
It said during the meeting the DC Kohima assured that there will be no interference from the Nagalnd side, as the present dispute does not have to do with the political boundary between the two States.
It also said that the land dispute of Mao Council and SAPO as per claims and counter claims of traditional/ancestral ownership overlapping with political boundary and the dispute falls within the political and administrative boundary of Manipur.
The DC and SP Senapati clarified that security forces deployed at the disputed site are for preventing violence and to secure live and livelihood of common people. No activity will be allowed from either sides inthe disputes region till amicable settlement adding that it had conveyed the message to SAYO/SAPO to clear any misunderstanding, it said.
It said the DC and SP also assured to maintain law and order along the stretch of NH-02 and ensure safe passage of the Mao people in the region and the people living in the area while caution to be maintained by Mao community.
The officials from Kohima district apprised the steps under enforcement on the highway in view of the SAYO`™s `Quit Notice` served to the Maos and also the additional burden of protection for large number of Mao population settled in Nagaland.
Moving his motion, Th Syamkumar said alleged that the state Government has failed to take any positive measures when several section of the society including NGOs are concerned on the issue.
Noting the huge potential `Dzuko valley` for tourism, the Andro MLA said that the Nagaland government saw the opportunity when Manipur failed to realize adding that he attributed the prevailing situation was due to Manipur government`™s apathy.
Shyamkumar said that the State government must take a concrete stand not only the Dzuko boundary row but also for the entire boundary of Manipur.