KOHIMA, 24th April, 2023: The United Naga Tribes Association on Border Areas has expressed displeasure over the agreement made between the Chief Ministers of Assam and Nagaland on the oil exploration in the so-called Disputed Area Belts that lies between the two states.

In a release, the association stated the boundary dispute between the two states is a sub-judiced matter since the Civil Suit filed by the Government of Assam is still pending in the Supreme Court.

Until the Civil Suit is withdrawn by the Appellant, no positive steps can be undertaken by both the Appellant and the Defendant. Any exploration for mineral resources including petroleum products in the Disputed Area Belts between the two states is uncalled for and impractical since the issue a sub-judiced matter and that Naga people can never accept the wrong interpretations of the historical facts over its land.

The Government of Nagaland should initiate practical steps to persuade the Government of Assam to withdraw the Civil Suit first so that the present intent of the Nagaland government can be implemented otherwise there will be repercussions, it stated.