The Deputy Commissioners of Mokokchung, Nagaland and Jorhat, Assam on Friday July 10 reaffirmed strict adherence to the status quo in the Aosenden village area as decided during the Chief Secretary-level meeting held on July 31, 2021, while also deciding to conduct a joint verification of the Aokum area within seven days during a DC-level Border Coordination Meeting held at the ADC Conference Hall, Mangkolemba.
According to the official outcome of the meeting, both district administrations agreed that, in respect of Aosenden village, strict adherence would be maintained to the status quo decided during the Chief Secretary-level meeting of July 31, 2021. Both sides also agreed to refrain from any activity or new construction that would violate the existing arrangement for maintaining the status quo.
Regarding Aokum village, the meeting decided that the concerned Border Magistrates from both sides would conduct a joint verification of the area within seven days.
The two districts also resolved to strengthen coordination and response mechanisms by ensuring regular communication and promptly sharing details of newly transferred Border Magistrates and police officers to maintain continuity and close coordination.
Another decision taken during the meeting was that prior intimation would be given by both sides before undertaking any official border visits or activities. The administrations also agreed that official engagements would take into account local sensitivities, including Sunday observance in Nagaland.
The DC-level Border Coordination Meeting was convened by the Deputy Commissioner, Mokokchung, Ajit Kumar Verma, IAS, to discuss border-related issues between Mokokchung district and Jorhat district.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Commissioner, Mokokchung, Ajit Kumar Verma, IAS; Deputy Commissioner, Jorhat, Jay Shivani, IAS; Superintendent of Police, Mokokchung, Vusupreo Kezo, NPS; Superintendent of Police, Jorhat, Shubrajyoti Bora, IPS; ADC Mangkolemba Moakumzuk Tzudir; officers from the district administrations and police of both districts; Border Magistrates; representatives from villages of Mokokchung includes Ao Senden; Tzurangkong and Japukong Mungdang; and village council chairmen from Aosenden, Aosungkum, Aokum, Vikuto, Saring, Akumen, Tsurmen, Aonokpu Yimsen, Changdang and Yajang ‘C’ and also village representatives from Jorhat, Assam.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Deputy Commissioner, Mokokchung, Ajit Kumar Verma said the coordination meeting was convened to ensure better coordination at the border and to address issues arising in the border areas through discussions at the village, local and district administration levels so that peace could be maintained.
He thanked the Deputy Commissioner of Jorhat for agreeing to organise the meeting and for travelling to Mangkolemba, adding that it was the first time such a meeting had been held at the Mangkolemba office.
Verma described the discussions as constructive, stating that civil authority members from both Nagaland and Assam, along with officers from the district administrations and police, participated in the deliberations. He said issues of concern to both sides were discussed and resolved in accordance with prior understandings and existing official documents, making the coordination meeting constructive.
Download Nagaland Tribune app on Google Play
Deputy Commissioner, Jorhat, Jay Shivani thanked his Mokokchung counterpart for organising the meeting and said both district administrations had maintained regular communication, frequently coordinating over the phone whenever any issue arose to ensure that problems were addressed before they escalated.
He said the Border Magistrates of both districts were already in regular contact and that the meeting further resolved that they should remain in daily communication, continue organising meetings and other coordination activities, and work together to maintain peace and harmony among communities living along the inter-state border.
Shivani said DC-level border coordination meetings are convened whenever required or when both districts feel there has been a significant gap since the previous meeting. He said he had discussed the need for the meeting with the Deputy Commissioner, Mokokchung, a few days earlier, following which the meeting was organised at Mangkolemba.
Expressing hope for continued cooperation, Shivani said both district administrations would continue working together to ensure that people living along the Assam-Nagaland border remain in harmony, develop together and contribute to the progress of both states.
