Assam Special DGP GP Singh after visiting the Assam-Nagaland border at Mariani on Friday said there is a possibility of filing a contempt case against Nagaland for violation of an earlier Supreme Court order to maintain status quo.
The border matter has remained subjudice as the apex court was hearing a case on the Assam-Nagaland border dispute.
Singh visited the Assam-Nagaland border at Balijan Pahar on the direction of the Assam chief minister after Mariani Congress MLA Rupjyoti Kurmi was shot at on Thursday afternoon by Naga miscreants from across the border.
Kurmi had gone to Balijan Pahar, a hilly terrain about 3 kms away from New Sonowal border outpost in Assam, to verify whether reports of Naga encroachment in his constituency was true,
MLA Kurmi had to flee along with reporters, his two PSOs and Assam police personnel from the BOP, who had accompanied him to the site when they were fired upon on reaching the spot.
GP Singh said the superintendent of police and deputy commissioner of Jorhat have been directed to collect GPS location, do photography and videography of the Dissoi Valley Reserve Valley area, where the alleged encroachment had taken place and submit a report to the government within 48 hours.
Also read: Miscreants open fire along Assam-Nagaland border, close shave for Congress MLA Rupjyoti Kurmi
He said the report should include whether the entire activities showing how it violates the Supreme Court direction regarding the interstate border impasse.
On receiving the report, the government may take the opinion of the law department whether a contempt case may be filed in the top court.
He said it was agreed upon that by Monday, a DC-SP level talks would be held to discuss the Dissoi valley Reserve forest problems and resolve the same.
Singh further said he visited the spot with the DIG, the Jorhat SP and DC, and held discussions with the IG border of Nagaland, Border magistrate of Nagaland and Mokochung district administration officials.
Singh acknowledged that encroachment may have occurred as forest personnel from Mariani had tried to evict the plantation, a couple of days ago.
Referring to the shooting of Mariani MLA and his complaint at the Mariani police station, Singh said he has directed the Jorhat SP to write to his counterpart in Mokokchung to find out whether the gun used in firing at Kurmi was licensed or unlicensed, to apprehend the culprit and hand over him to Jorhat police.
He also suggested that IG Border level talks between the two states should be held to discuss the disputed border issue and see that the existing agreement between the two states and SC directives are adhered to.
Singh also said there would be joint border patrolling by forest and police personnel.
He said he has asked them (Nagaland ) to disengage and “on principle they had agreed but let us see what they do in the next few days.”
On the directions of Hon ?@CMOfficeAssam? visited Desoi Valley Reserve Forest in Jorhat District bordering Nagaland and had extensive discussion on encroachment by people of Nagaland in the RF in violation of protocols and Hon Court orders. (1) pic.twitter.com/Y3s0GPZGku
— GP Singh (@gpsinghips) May 28, 2021
In the afternoon, Mariani Congress MLA Rupjyoti Kurmi sat on an indefinite hunger strike at Bhabanipur near the Assam-Nagaland border in protest against the state government’s ineptitude to evict Nagaland’s incursion on Assam soil.
It was reported that Naga villagers had cut and burnt a portion of Dissoi Valley Reserve Forest and occupied a large portion by planting banana and betel nut trees and built one house in the area.
The Dissoi Reserve Forest, Dissoi Valley Reserve Forest and Tiru Hills Reserve Forest are the three contiguous reserve forests which stretch along the Assam-Nagaland border. .
Kurmi had given 24 hours to the Assam government to evict the encroachers but there has been no action.
An agitated Kurmi on Friday slammed the government for twiddling its thumbs despite the elapse of 24 hours after he, and Assam Police personnel had been shot at.
“It is a shameful matter that the Assam Police could do nothing even after 24 hours have passed since not only me, an MLA, but also the police of Assam and reporters were shot at, ” he said.