Nagaland: MLA raises border dispute with Manipur following alleged abduction of Dobashi

Kohima: Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Chotisuh Sazo on Tuesday raised the Nagaland-Manipur border dispute during the state Assembly session following the alleged abduction of a Dobashi.

Sazo revealed that the incident happened between people from Khezhakeno under Phek district and Tungjoy village in Manipur where a dobashi from the state was allegedly “abducted”.

Sazo questioned the status and condition of the Dobashi and the steps taken by the government to settle the dispute. He also highlighted that a similar incident happened two years back where a group of people from Tungjoy village burnt and destroyed structures set up for Nagaland Governor’s visit.

Deputy chief minister Y Patton, who is also the Home Minister in response narrated the incidents that occurred between the two villages. He said that on February 12 at around 9 AM, about 150-200 people from Khezhakeno village went to the Kahujo forest area.

He added that the officer in charge of the police station Paomata under Senapati district then arrived and tried to prohibit the villagers from cutting firewood as it is a disputed area. But the villagers did not recognise his authority.

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He said that later on Monday around 11 AM, a similar incident took place where 500 villagers from Tungjoy came to an adjoining area and began to cut firewood. “On receipt of this information, SP sent a team of 11 IRB (Indian Reserve Battalion) to the spot to restrain the Tungjoy villages from cutting firewood,” he said further adding that the villagers did “not obey”.

Patton said that a Dobashi on duty from Khezhakeno village arrived on the spot with the intent to talk to the villagers but was instead “caught” by Tungjoy mob and “manhandles before he was taken away to the village.

The Phek district’s Deputy Commissioner (DC) and superintendent of police (SP) discussed the issue and decided to make arrangements to hand over the Dobashi to the SP.

Patton said that the SP Phek have been directed to enquire. He added that based on the enquiry, the police headquarters would initiate necessary action.

Meanwhile, the Dobashi was reportedly handed back and sent for medical examination.