The fresh unrest follows a controversial diktat from 11 Naga village councils banning entry of Assam villagers, livestock, and goods, with fines of ₹50,000.
BY PC Bureau
Tensions flared once again along the Assam-Nagaland border on Friday as several organisations and political groups in Golaghat district staged a three-hour sit-in at Merapani, accusing Naga groups of repeated “aggressions and atrocities” in the disputed areas.
Interestingly, several Naga groups are also locked in conflict with the Kuki-Zo population in the Manipur hills, where they had enforced an embargo on the movement of Kuki-Zo people through their areas. These groups further threatened to dismantle bunkers and derail a road project initiated by Kuki-Zo civil society organisations to connect Kangpokpi with Churachandpur without passing through Imphal.
The Merapani flare-up came in the wake of a contentious notification said to have been issued by 11 Naga village councils. The diktat banned the entry of Assamese people, livestock, and goods into Nagaland border areas, prescribing a fine of ₹50,000 for violations. Assamese groups denounced the order as a bid to intimidate villagers within Assam’s territory.
🚨 Border Tensions Rise
11 village councils in Nagaland have restricted entry of Assam residents without written permission, warning fines up to ₹50,000.
The move follows eviction drives in the Rengma Reserve Forest, intensifying Assam–Nagaland border disputes. 🌲⚠️#Assam… pic.twitter.com/CFGlUyqvod— The Borderlens (@theborderlens) August 28, 2025
The protest was organised jointly by the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), Bir Lachit Sena, Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti, Nari Mukti Sangram Samiti, and Assam Jatiyatabadi Yuva Satra Parishad (AJYSP). Demonstrators raised slogans seeking the recovery of land allegedly occupied by Nagaland, the introduction of inter-state passes, and permanent deployment of security forces to protect Assamese residents in vulnerable border zones.
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“Since the 1960s, Nagaland has unleashed atrocities along the border, but no lasting solution has ever come — only politics. The new notification threatens villagers with a ₹50,000 fine if they cross into their traditional areas. The government must intervene immediately, otherwise we will intensify our democratic agitation,” one protester said.
Linking the situation to past unrest, another protester claimed atrocities had worsened after the Uriamghat eviction incident. “We reject the diktats of Naga village councils. If they continue issuing such notices, we too will defend ourselves. The government cannot remain silent. We demand a permanent battalion camp to ensure our safety,” he said.
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Leaders of the Bir Lachit Sena also questioned the legality of the Naga councils’ order. “This so-called notification was never submitted to the border magistrate or CRPF, so it has no official standing. In Nagaland’s Bhandari subdivision, there are no tourist spots to justify such restrictions — instead, it is a hub of illegal drug trade. And how can they fine villagers ₹50,000 if cattle stray across the border? A cow does not understand boundaries. If that is the price of an animal, what value do they place on human lives?” asked one leader.
The organisations warned that unless the Assam and central governments take immediate steps to safeguard Assamese villagers and resolve the border dispute, their agitation would escalate further in the coming days.
