Merapani police station near the Assam-Nagaland border in Golaghat distict. Telegraph picture

Golaghat, June 19: Senior officials of the Union ministry of home affairs today visited Merapani along the Assam-Nagaland inter-state border in Golaghat district to take stock of the border situation.

The officer-on-special duty of the home ministry, Anil Goswami, was accompanied by under secretary S. Sahai and a senior official of the Assam home department.

During the visit, the officials met members of Doyang Nagarik Mancha, a citizens’ forum, and interacted with them on border issues.

While talking to this correspondent, forum secretary Nagen Bora said the group had apprised Goswami of the problems that it faces and frequent extortion demands by the NSCN.

“We are very optimistic about a fruitful outcome from our interaction with Goswami,” Bora said.

Later, Goswami held a meeting with the commandant of 142 battalion of the CRPF, Vishrant Kumar, who has been posted as commandant of a neutral force in Merapani.

The entire area of Assam-Nagaland inter-state border within Golaghat district has been divided into A,B,C and D sectors. Merapani falls under D sector.

On June 21, the mediation committee appointed by the Supreme Court to resolve the border issue between Assam and Nagaland will hold a public hearing in Dimapur where two public representatives from four border sectors of Golaghat will participate along with district administration officials.

The visit of the officials assumes importance as Merapani was in news recently for frequent arrests of Maoist cadres.

Prior to visiting Merapani, Goswami attended a high-level meeting to assess the law and order situation of Golaghat district. The meeting was attended by deputy commissioner Julie Sonowal, superintendent of police R.U. Laskar besides top officials of the CRPF, the Numaligarh Refinery unit of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and the ONGC.