It is the turn of Nagaland to chase Bangladeshis after Arunachal

GUWAHATI, July 18: Hordes of suspected Bangladeshis are being pushed into Asom from Nagaland near the New Sonowal area along the Mariani-Mokokchung Road in Jorhat district. Nagaland’s Ao Students’ Conference (ASC) gave a ‘clarion call’ on July 17 that illegal immigrants from Bangladesh should leave the State immediately, and those Nagas who harbour them in their houses would be treated as traitors of Nagaland.

“Trade permits are issued to locals only, and therefore local businessmen employing Bangladeshis as their salesman or renting out their permits will be dealt befittingly,” the students’ body warned.

According to reports available, a big group left Mariani and headed towards Guwahati in a train after arriving at the railway township. Another 45 suspected immigrants have been detained at the Mariani police station. There are allegations that these suspected Bangladeshis had been beaten up by the Nagas. The bodies of some of the labourers reportedly bear injury marks. The sources pointed out that the fleeing labourers might get down at safe havens during their Guwahati-bound journey.

Meanwhile, the Jorhat District Students’ Union (JDSU) has strongly reacted to the latest development. The State Government should instruct the district administration to take immediate steps to identify the suspected immigrants, JDSU president Biren Saikia said. “Care should be taken to herd the labourers together in a secure place so that they do not get any opportunity to mingle with the floating population of Bangladeshis here,” he stressed. Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba-Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) president Putul Dutta has asked the State Government to clear its stand on the identity of the suspected Bangladeshis who have been pushed into Asom’s border areas.

Meanwhile, a 15-member team of the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), North East Students’ Union (NESO) and Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) met Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio in Kohima today and urged him to find out an amicable solution to the vexed border problem.