Stolen bullocks aggravate Assam-Naga border tension

Dimapur, July 3 (MExN): In a telling example of the sensitivity of tensions in the Assam-Nagaland border, a pair of bullocks stolen on the night of June 21 is said to have led to heightened hostilities in the Mariani areas. An executive member of the Border Peace Coordination Committee (Assam-Nagaland), Likok Pongen, is said to have been assaulted by the people who stole the bullocks.
The Border Peace Coordination Committee (Assam-Nagaland) said the incident led to heavy tension during the period June 25-26 in the border areas especially at Mariani end.
According to the committee’s president BP Bora, the bullocks were owned by a villager, one Konok Tanti of Thekerabil Udaypur Gaon of Nagajanka under Mariani PS bordering Assam and Nagaland. The bullocks were stolen on the night of June 21 and subsequently the owner approached Likok Pongen, an executive member of the Border Peace Committee (Assam-Nagaland). In a joint effort, Pongen recovered the bullocks from “an interested party” who claimed to have purchased the bullocks. However, they failed to produce the purchase-documents for the claimed transaction.
Unfortunately, the “unfounded high-hand claimant” severely tortured Likok Pongen as well as the bullocks’ owner and others. Apart from this severe manhandling requiring hospitalization of the victims, fine was also reportedly imposed on some of the victims, the committee informed.
Ironically, the Assam administration is said to have targeted even Naga travelers as the owner of the missing bullocks who went to Nagaland in search of the missing cattle did not return till the evening of June 26.
They were suspected to have been tortured and kept hostage by suspected NSCN cadres at Chungtiayimsen village, it was informed.
The BPCC (A-N) viewed the entire affair very seriously and said that the efforts of the committee members for peace and coordination in the borders should be recognized rather than dragging them to unwarranted situations.
Further, the BPCC requests the village administration of the area or any other authority to look into the incident of June 25 around Chungtiayimsen village in connection with theft and the subsequent events. The person responsible should be booked, the committee demanded.

Three NC Hills villages torched

Nagaon, May 12 : The fire of ethnic hate continued to rage in the North Cachar Hills today as militants torched 80 abandoned homes in three villages in Maibong around noon, hours after a goods train escaped derailment when the driver spotted that a stretch of the track was missing.

A railway spokesman in Guwahati said security forces and the driver of the Lumding-Badarpur goods train noticed a section of the track missing near Mupa station around 7.30am this morning.

The train was later taken back to Lumding.

Hours later, around 11.30am, villagers near Maibong town noticed a group in army fatigues rushing towards Zeme Naga villages — Guilung I, Guilung II and adjoining Jhalwa.

Families had abandoned their homes in all three villages, anticipating attacks.

“We saw smoke billowing out of the villages just half-an-hour after the armed group passed us by,” said a villager from an adjoining village.

Police are yet to ascertain the group that carried out today’s attack.

A team of Maibong police rushed to three villages after the attack and launched a massive combing operation to arrest the culprits. “There was nothing except the gutted houses,” a police official said after returning from the site of the incident.

This is the fourth such incident of arson in North Cachar Hills within a fortnight. The police said Maibong subdivision is now dotted with abandoned villages.

To provide food, shelter and healthcare facilities for the homeless villagers, the district administration has opened relief camps at Laisong KM LP School (921 inmates), Hajaichak guest house (108 inmates), Tungje community hall (99 inmates), Kalachand (220 inmates) and Samsadpur (for the homeless of Phaiding village).

Maibong subdivisional officer (civil) Ghana Kanta Pegu said district administration was ready with sufficient relief materials despite Maibong staring at a food crisis.

“Since the rail services are suspended in the district, this area is witnessing a tremendous shortage of essential commodities. The shortage has led to skyrocketing of prices.,” said Amit Johri of Maibong town.

Discipleship Bible College tries something new

Dimapur : Witnessing the boom in the handloom and handicrafts scene in Nagaland, the Discipleship Bible College was motivated to hold an ‘art and craft day’ of its own, with an aim towards exploring the talents of the students and thereby giving them a platform and raising funds for the college magazine.

The first of its kind in the history of the college, the art and craft day was organised by the art and literary committee of the college.

College holds art & craft day

Chief guest for the occasion, Nihuvi Chishi, General Manager at District Industry Centre, Nagaland, said that he had never come across any theological college organising an event like this, and expressed elation at seeing the Discipleship Bible College giving it a try.

He enumerated the various ventures that the department could offer those talented in weaving, handicrafts and floriculture, and encouraged students to “come forward and involve in such work”.

The welcome speech was delivered by the principal, Rev. Dr. Nuklu, who expressed that this event would be a turning point for the college and faculty to get involved with people and to develop creativity.

Academic Dean Temsu prayed on the occasion, while the DBC community presented the DBC anthem.