Border Dispute: Village councils urge Nagaland govt to intervene

Morung Express News 
Bhandari | August 28

Representatives of villages along the Assam-Nagaland border held a press conference at Bhandari on August 27, addressing the tensions reported at Negheribil on August 25 and 26 and highlighting the difficulties faced by residents of the border villages.

Longayim Village Council chairman Wochothung Yanthan, while recounting the incidents of August 25 and 26, alleged that members of the village council were physically assaulted by a mob gathered at Negheribil while they were returning to the village with rubber saplings received from the Rubber Board of India.

Wochothung also raised concerns over movement restrictions caused by barricades along the route, stating that such restrictions had been a recurring issue and had created difficulties for residents travelling through the area. He appealed to the Assam Forest Department to remove the barricades to facilitate the movement of people from the border villages.

He further alleged that some Assam-based media reports had misrepresented the incidents of August 25 and 26, and appealed for responsible reporting to prevent further escalation of tensions.

According to Wochothung, the recent developments subsequently resulted in the road connecting Longayim, Mekirang and Longchum to the highway being blocked from the Assam side, affecting the movement of residents.

He said an alternate foothill road exists but is currently not motorable. Villagers had previously contributed money towards improving the road, but their limited resources made it difficult to undertake major road works. He therefore appealed to the Nagaland Government to intervene and make the route motorable.

Wochothung further claimed that the area referred to as Negheribil-2 had traditionally belonged to Naga forefathers and alleged that encroachment had contributed to recurring tensions along the border.

Mekirang Village Council chairman Sorenthung Lotha also highlighted the impact of the road blockade, stating that the route connecting Mekirang, Longchum and Longayim to the highway had been blocked following the recent tensions.

He said the three villages are located around two kilometres from the main road connecting Merapani and Changpang, while the alternative foothill route remains in poor condition and is currently not motorable.

Lotha said residents of the three villages had traditionally travelled through Merie village and maintained cordial relations with its people. However, he said the blockade had affected this relationship and urged both sides to resolve the matter through dialogue.

Lotha appealed to the Nagaland Government to improve the approximately 5.5-km stretch from the Merapani foothill area to Mekirang, suggesting that at least a chip-sealed road should be constructed, which he said was now essential for the three villages.

He said the matter had already been brought to the attention of the Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police, Wokha, and the Border Magistrate. According to Lotha, the officials assured them that the issue would be addressed, although no specific timeline was given.

On the Negheribil issue, Lotha alleged that the area was historically known as Mekirang and raised concerns over settlement and alleged encroachment in the surrounding forest reserve areas. He called for any action concerning settlements in the area to be undertaken jointly by the Assam and Nagaland governments and applied equally to all communities.

Lotha also alleged that portions of an agricultural link road leading towards Nagaland had been encroached upon and urged the Nagaland Government to look into the matter.

Chumdemo N Jami, a member of the village councils, meanwhile, warned that the latest developments could escalate if left unaddressed. He urged the Nagaland Government to take up the matter with the Assam Government through dialogue and work towards maintaining cordial relations between communities living along the border.