Indefinite economic blockade against Arunachal Pradesh enters 3rd day today
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Saraipung (Assam), August 22 2010:
Security forces in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh Sunday launched a joint counter-insurgency operation to evict militants of the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) involved in raiding border villages, leading to a volatile situation in the past week.
Meanwhile, in Assam's Sibsagar, the indefinite economic blockade launched by All Assam Students Union (AASU) and Assam Jatiyabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) entered the second day today as hundreds of vehicles carrying essentials remained stranded on the road to Arunachal Pradesh.
"We have decided for joint patrolling and sanitize the area to ensure peace and restore calm," Akhilesh Singh, police chief of Assam's eastern Sivasagar district, said.
Police and paramilitary troopers on either side of the border have not only started patrolling, but also began selective operations in areas where NSCN-IM rebels could have possible bases.
Heavily armed NSCN-IM militants having bases in Arunachal Pradesh have been continuously raiding Saraipung village in eastern Sivasagar district, about 400 km from Assam's main city of Guwahati, since the past week.
The raids have been going on in the area with NSCN-IM militants crossing the unfenced border and launching attacks on Assamese villagers.
Several homes were set ablaze, besides the attackers assaulting locals on the Assam side.
Tensions erupted in Simokho since August 14 when unidentified persons damaged one under-construction barrack of Assam police.
Trouble intensified on August 16 when about 200 locals from Arunachal Pradesh descended on Saraipung and went on a rampage, dismantling homes and setting ablaze a tea garden factory, besides attacking residents.
"The NSCN-IM slapped extortion notices and demanded tax from Assam villagers, but when we refused to pay, the militants came and started attacking us," local village elder Babu Das said.
On Friday, NSCN-IM militants ambushed the convoy of the Sivasagar district police chief Akhilesh Singh in which two of his security men were injured.
"We want to ensure that the border area is free from any militants," a senior Arunachal Pradesh police official said.
Assam Home Commissioner Jishnu Boruah will visit the area tomorrow to attend a meeting of the local boundary commission, constitute by the Supreme Court.
In Guwahati, officials said a house was set ablaze at Charaipung area late last night.
No casualty has been reported in the incident.
There were reports of food shortage in the adjoining Arunachal Pradesh areas as they are dependant on supplies made through Assam.
To break the deadlock tomorrow the home secretaries are scheduled to meet here.
Border disputes are nothing new in the North East with fights for territorial supremacy often leading to violent clashes.