Over proposed Assam Police camp, Ao Senden seeks CM’s action

Kohima: The Ao Senden has appealed to Nagaland Chief Minister for urgent intervention regarding the reported construction of an Assam Police Commando Battalion camp at Septsuyong Lu in Kangtsung Village, Mokokchung District.

In a letter addressed to the Chief Minister, the Ao Senden noted that since January 2022, different organisations had sought intervention from the State Government on multiple occasions through representations over the reported instances by the Assam Police at Septsuyong Lu on Kangtsung Village traditional land in the Nagaland- Assam border. Despite these efforts, the Ao Senden claimed there has been no response or action taken by the concerned Nagaland government.

The recent announcement as per the Times of India, which reported that the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) granted in-principle approval for the diversion of 28 hectares of reserve forest for the battalion’s establishment, has intensified concerns, the Ao Senden maintained.

The article described the commando camp’s establishment inside Geleky RF as a measure to resist “encroachment by miscreants from the Nagaland side,” which the Ao Senden stated is “rubbing salt into our wound after encroaching our land…”

The letter emphasized that the land in question has historically belonged to Kangtsung Village, asserting that the establishment of the battalion is a clear case of encroachment by the Assam government, supported by the Union Government of India.
The Ao Senden urged the Chief Minister to address the issue with his Assam counterpart and the Union Government to safeguard the interests and integrity of the Ao territory and the state of Nagaland.