Situation in Nagaland, Manipur border villages 'under control'

By Our Correspondent

IMPHAL, OCT. 7. The tense situation in some villages of Nagaland and Manipur, stemming from the border dispute at Tungjoy village in Senapati district bordering Nagaland is under full control. This was disclosed to TheHindu by Mr. C. Peter, the DGP of Manipur, on Friday. No fresh border Skirmish was reported, however, as a precautionary measure, the District Collector, the Police Superintendent and a large posse of State and Central forces are camping at Tungjoy village, he said.

The Nagaland Government had recently opened a new police station at Khejo Khonoma. But the villagers of Tungjoy told the district authority that while constructing the approach road, the Nagaland police had encroached on Manipur's land. They carried on with the construction of the asphalt road despite protests. In retaliation, the villagers burnt a bulldozer used for levelling the hilly areas.

The Manipur Chief Minister, Mr. W. Nipamacha, spoke to his Nagaland counterpart, Mr. S. C. Jamir, in a bid to resolve the crisis. The latter assured Mr. Nipamacha that he would instruct the police officials to find an amicable solution.

There have been several incidents of border disputes among the villagers of the two States over grazing and hunting rights, felling of timbers and paddy harvesting. Once the Nagaland villagers entered Manipur and set fire to houses at Liyai Khunnou in this district. On some occasions, personnel of the Nagaland Armed Police (NAP) had allegedly entered some villages in Manipur and `abducted' some persons saying they were behind the clashes. The Manipur Government approached the Centre when the NAP refused to set them free. Manipur Forest Department officials, with local guides from Mao in Senapati district, had planned to go to the Dzukou valley following a report that the Nagaland Government was preparing to set up a water plant in this valley, which is clearly in Manipur's territory. As there was no approach road from Mao, the forest officials and the guides took a short detour in Nagaland. But the Angami students ``arrested'' and paraded them in public before handing them over to the police. The officials and villagers were later detained in judicial custody. Following strongly-worded instructions from the Centre, these officials and villagers were set free.

There are complaints that Nagaland had included the Dzukou valley in its tourist map as its area. Besides, it had constructed a water plant there. Villagers of Mao also say that there is a natural boundary between Nagaland and Manipur in the form of a river. But Nagaland was accused of constructing tuberculosis hospital on Manipur's land. High officials said the main concern of the authorities of both the States for the time being would be to defuse the tension.

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