Japukong Kaketshir Mungdang (JKM) has appealed the state government to intervene immediately and help the farmers of Yajang villagers, particularly in ‘Akochisa pok’ area, against the constant disturbances from Assam police from cultivating their fields in their own traditional lands.
In a press release, President JKM, Rongsenmongba Aier and General Secretary Tongpang S Jamir stated that Assam police continue to harass and humiliate the Naga farmers when they were prevented to work in their own field and chased away from their traditional agricultural land.
The student union also stated that the unabated and illegal act of Assam police has made the spot visit of Nagaland Border Affairs Parliamentary Secretary Mmhonlumo Kikon along with the local MLA and Deputy Commissioner on May 23 “meaningless” and a “mockery”.
The union also appealed the Nagaland government and its responsible legislators to stop playing inter-state party politics at the cost of the indigenous Naga farmers and their traditional land and act fast before the Assam Police set up its own permanent post inside Nagaland.
“Assam police has already waged a psychological warfare and we see Nagaland police succumbing to that pressure every day. It is very painful. It is also a big embarrassment and humiliating to see that Naga farmers are chased out by the Assam police in the presence of Nagaland police in our own land”, added the release.
The union also stated that despite possessing valid legal documents with Yajang village council that recorded the payment of rupees seventy thousand by the “Kasojan Tea Co.Pvt. Ltd, Assam on 18th October, 2006 to Yajang A,B, C village Councils as compensation for the destruction and damages caused to the plantation and standing crops in a traditional and agricultural land of Yajang village namely ‘Akochisa pok’ under Mokokchung district, the Assam Police continuously intrude on the same agricultural area and prevented Naga farmers from cultivating in their own land.
The union further requested the state government to empower its security force in order to protect its land and the rights of the people so as to enable the farmers to cultivate their land without sense of fear and interruptions from the Assam side.