GUWAHATI, July 3 ? The Assam Government has decided to set up a new Border Outpost at Missibailum area in Karbi Anglong district following incidents of violence after an encroachment drive by a group of Naga people backed by the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN). One Extra Assistant Commissioner of the Assam Government Dipankar Das was killed in the exchange of fire in that area in the Dhansiri reserve forest on July 1.
The Minister of State for Home Rockybul Hussain said that he, along with the Health Minister, Dr Bhumidhar Barman, Director General of Assam Police, Inspector General of Police (Special Branch) and Home Secretary visited Karbi Anglong today to take stock of the situation and held meetings with the Army, District Council and others. He said that immediately a Forest Department camp has been established in the area to prevent further encroachment in the area and a BOP would be established shortly. He revealed that the District Council has decided to release Rs 50 lakh from its own funds for setting up of the BOP immediately.
Hussain revealed that the State Government has decided to issue letter of appreciation to all the officers and men who participated in the operation to drive out the encroachers, while, a Government job would be provided to the widow of magistrate Dipankar Das, who was killed by a sniper bullet while leading the offensive against the encroachers.
The Minister revealed that the Assam Government has strongly taken up the matter with the Government of India as the NSCN is under a cease-fire agreement with the Centre. The State Government has already demanded that the designated camp of the NSCN at Hebron, from where the militants led the encroachers, should be shifted immediately to further inside the territory of Nagaland. The State Government is of the view that all the designated camps of the NSCN should be located at least 20 kilometres inside of Nagaland. He also asserted that the Assam Government would never tolerate such acts by the militant outfit and strong action would be taken whenever any attempt is made by the outfit to create trouble within the territory of Assam. ?For the first time, the Assam Government immediately evicted the encroachers and decided to establish a border outpost to prevent any such attempt in future?? he pointed out.
Though the NSCN today issued a Press statement denying its involvement in the incident, Hussain said that the State Government has enough evidence to prove the involvement of the militant outfit in the incident in Karbi Anglong.