Nagaland Chief Minister T.R. Zeliang on Saturday sought the urgent intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the release of nine State security personnel being held hostage by a group of Adivasis in Golaghat district of Assam.
Mr. Zeliang in a letter said: “Vehicles attached to Nagaland Parliamentary Secretary for Transport and Information and Public Relations Paiwang Konyak, along with his personal staff and security personnel, were proceeding to Jorhat Airport to pick him up as he was scheduled to land there from Kolkata yesterday [Friday].”
However, a crowd of Adivasis stopped and surrounded the convoy, he said.
Talks with Gogoi Mr. Zeliang said that he had personally spoken to his Assam counterpart Tarun Gogoi on Friday evening seeking his intervention and help. Mr. Gogoi had reportedly assured Mr. Zeliang that the matter would be tackled.
However, he said the convoy continued to be detained at the same location near Golaghat, and the State government was worried about the fate of the security personnel and the private secretary to the Parliamentary Secretary.
‘Nagas-Adivasis clash’ Mr. Zeliang also said that the incident arose due to clashes between the Nagas and the Adivasis in the adjoining areas of Wokha district in Nagaland and Golaghat district of Assam during the past week, leading to loss of precious lives.
“The government of Nagaland is taking all possible steps to ensure that the situation does not escalate,” Mr. Zeliang said adding that police have registered criminal cases, and already arrested eight persons in this connection.
He said that the Nagaland government had instituted an inquiry into the facts and circumstances leading to the incident.
