Assam govt clarifies Uriamghat tax incident not linked to Nagas or Nagaland government

GUWAHATI, JUL 8 (AGENCIES): Assam government on Wednesday clarified that the recent incident in the Uriamghat border area, where villagers were allegedly asked to pay Rs 110 per household as “House Tax” and “Census Tax”, was the act of a few identified miscreants and had no connection with the Naga community or the Government of Nagaland.
Replying to the issue in the Assam Legislative Assembly, Parliamentary Affairs minister Pijush Hazarika said the government learnt of the incident through a report submitted by the Superintendent of Police (Border), Golaghat.
According to the report, two persons from Hukai Basti in Niuland district of Nagaland visited villages under Rajapukhuri in the Uriamghat Police Station area on June 23 and allegedly distributed letters to village headmen directing them to collect Rs 110 from each household as “House Tax” and “Census Tax” under the banner of NSCN/GPRN (Nikki). Hazarika said it would be inappropriate to blame an entire community for the unlawful acts of a few individuals and urged the public to maintain peace and avoid generalisations that could affect the long-standing cordial relations between Assam and Nagaland.
He said the two accused had been identified but remained absconding. Security agencies had intensified search operations and in the border areas to apprehend the accused and prevent any escalation. The minister reiterated that strict legal action would be taken against those responsible and all necessary preventive measures were being implemented to safeguard border residents.