Districts agree to jointly verify Aokum area within seven days and reaffirm existing border arrangements
Jorhat and Mokokchung districts on Friday agreed to strengthen coordination along the Assam-Nagaland border, reaffirmed the 2021 status quo in Aosenden village and decided to jointly verify the Aokum area within the next seven days.
The decisions were taken during a DC-level Border Coordination Meeting held at the Additional Deputy Commissioner’s Office in Mangkolemba, marking the first time the meeting was hosted in the sub-division. The meeting, attended by Deputy Commissioners, district officials, police personnel and civil society representatives from both Assam and Nagaland, was convened to strengthen coordination along the inter-state border and ensure that issues affecting border areas are discussed and addressed at the Border Magistrate, local and district administration levels.
With regard to Aosenden village, both district administrations reaffirmed strict adherence to the status quo as decided during the Chief Secretary-level meeting held on July 31, 2021, and agreed to refrain from any activity or new construction that would violate the existing arrangement.
On Aokum village, the meeting resolved that the concerned Border Magistrates from both districts would jointly verify the area within seven days.
To improve coordination, both administrations agreed to maintain regular communication and promptly share details of newly transferred Border Magistrates and police officers to ensure continuity in border management. They also resolved that prior intimation would be given for all official border visits and activities, while official engagements would take into account local sensitivities, including Sunday observance in Nagaland.
Addressing the media after the meeting, Mokokchung Deputy Commissioner Ajit Kumar Verma, IAS, described the deliberations as “constructive” and “positive,” saying officials, police personnel and civil society representatives from both states had participated in the discussions.
According to Verma, matters of concern to both sides were deliberated upon and decisions were taken in accordance with previous understandings and existing agreements.
Jorhat Deputy Commissioner Jay Shivani, IAS, said both districts had resolved to ensure that Border Magistrates remain in regular contact through frequent interactions, meetings and other coordination activities.
He said closer engagement between officials would help maintain harmony among communities living on both sides of the inter-state border, prevent local issues from escalating and further strengthen peace between the two states.
Shivani said DC-level border coordination meetings are convened whenever required, particularly after prolonged gaps, to review coordination mechanisms and reaffirm the commitment of both district administrations towards maintaining peace. He expressed confidence that continued cooperation between the two districts would contribute to the development and well-being of border communities while strengthening relations between Assam and Nagaland.
