Wokha, April 9: Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio yesterday said his government would not spare the “illegal immigrants” residing in the disputed border areas of his state with Assam.

The Nagaland chief minister’s rumble came almost simultaneously with Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi’s audacious statement that not a single Bangladeshi was staying illegally in his state. Gogoi had made the statement at an election rally in Hailakandi yesterday.

Rio, who was addressing an election rally here yesterday, attacked the Assam government for allegedly issuing land rights to illegal immigrants. “Dispur’s move will not be tolerated. Assamese and Nagas have been neighbours for time immemorial, so we will talk to Assam but illegal immigrants will not be tolerated,” Rio iterated.

Parts of the disputed Assam boundary lie in the Wokha district. The entire area is oil rich and economically important for both states. After several bloody clashes decades ago, an interim agreement was signed between the two states in 1972. Salt was rubbed on the wounds recently when Rio visited Merapani to check the alleged encroachment on Nagaland soil from the Assam side.

Rio said the Asom Gana Parishad and the All Assam Students Union had advocated an out-of-court settlement to the border problems. “However, Assam government was not in its favour,” he said.

The Nagaland government had informed the Union home ministry about the formation of an underground outfit, christened Bangla Border Force, by the illegal immigrants in the Merapani area.

On the issue of oil royalty, Rio said, “I had asked Delhi to stop oil exploration in the disputed areas, or, if not, share the royalty between the two states.” Assam has said the issue would be settled in court. A petition by the Assam government on the issue is pending in the Supreme Court. Tarun Gogoi government has also refused to share the royalty.

The ONGC is expected to start exploration soon in the disputed areas. An agreement in this regard has been signed between the oil major and the Lotha Hoho.

Rio’s comments agree with his coalition’s strategic election campaigning against the Congress.

The comments came two days before Rio leaves for campaigning in Meghalaya in support of Nationalist Trinamool Congress party candidate from Tura, P.A. Sangma.

Rio is chairman of the BJP-led North East People’s Forum (NEPF), of which Sangma’s party is a constituent.