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Kohima, Mar 13: The Nagaland Assembly convened on Thursday to address the ongoing issues in the disputed border region with Assam, where legislators expressed worries about security, alleged encroachments, and the administrative hurdles faced by local residents.

During the Question Hour, Achumbemo Kikon, an MLA from the Naga People's Front, highlighted the vulnerability of Nagaland's border areas, particularly the Ralan sector, which shares approximately 105 km of border with Assam.

Kikon pointed out that frequent conflicts and tensions arise between the inhabitants of both states, necessitating significant time from local representatives to resolve these disputes.

He referenced a 1972 interim agreement that led to Nagaland withdrawing its police presence from the disputed areas, yet claimed that Assam has increased its police establishments instead of reducing them.

In response, Deputy Chief Minister Yanthungo Patton noted that prior to the 1972 agreement, Nagaland had five police outposts in the disputed areas, while Assam had 13. Following the agreement, Nagaland removed its outposts, but Assam has since expanded its presence to 63 permanent police outposts in the disputed area belt (DAB).

Kikon also expressed concerns regarding the neutrality of the forces stationed in the disputed areas, alleging that they have not maintained impartiality in certain situations, which has hindered local residents' economic activities.

He cited instances where local initiatives, such as a petrol station established by Naga entrepreneurs in the Ralan sector, faced obstructions.

Kikon urged the government to take decisive action to enhance administrative presence in the border areas to safeguard the interests of Nagaland's citizens residing in the DAB region.

In response to inquiries about the Tchunjanphen and Lio Longchum/Longayim police outposts, Patton informed the assembly that a temporary police outpost has been established at Tchunjanphen, with one company of the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) deployed there.

KG Kenye, the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, acknowledged that the Assam-Nagaland boundary dispute has persisted for decades, despite efforts from successive governments to resolve it. He assured that the government is aware of the challenges faced by residents, particularly regarding access to essential services like electricity, and will continue to seek solutions to extend power supply to affected villages.

Jacob Zhimomi, the Minister for Public Health Engineering, emphasized the importance of addressing mapping and jurisdiction issues that impact border development initiatives.