Nagaland Assam border tensions have prompted the state government to step up coordination with Assam after confrontations were reported in the Disputed Area Belt (DAB) on August 25 and 26. Deputy Chief Minister Yanthungo Patton assured the Nagaland Legislative Assembly that the government was taking steps to protect Naga villages, settlements and residents and prevent a repeat of the recent incidents.
Patton, who is also in charge of border affairs, made the assurance on September 3 while responding to a matter of urgent public importance raised by MLA and Advisor Achumbemo Kikon during the ninth session of the 14th Nagaland Legislative Assembly.
Border confrontation raises fresh concerns
The latest tension occurred in the Mekirang/Neghrebil area of Sector D in the Disputed Area Belt. According to Patton, the first incident took place on August 25 when Assam Forest officials stopped a vehicle carrying rubber saplings intended for plantation at Longayim village.
Border Magistrates from Nagaland and Assam subsequently visited the location and assessed the situation. However, another confrontation was reported the following day.
On August 26, a group of Meri/Mising people protesting near a barricaded area allegedly attacked the chairmen of Longayim and Lio-Longchum villages. A representative of the Lotha Lower Range Public Organisation was also allegedly assaulted. An FIR was later registered at Bhandari Police Station on August 27.
Village representatives had earlier appealed to both governments to intervene. They also raised concerns over barricades and movement restrictions affecting residents in the border belt.
Nagaland Assam border peace mechanism activated
Following the incidents, the Wokha and Golaghat district administrations activated the Border Level Peace Committee. The mechanism is intended to improve communication between the two administrations, maintain peace and reduce the possibility of further confrontations.
Patton said the Wokha district administration, led by the Deputy Commissioner and Border Magistrates, was maintaining active coordination with Assam authorities. He stressed that the government was closely monitoring developments in the DAB and pursuing the matter at both the state and Central levels.
The deputy chief minister also said future eviction and plantation drives should not be undertaken unilaterally. Instead, appropriate mechanisms would be established so that such activities are coordinated by officials from both Nagaland and Assam.
The approach is aimed at preventing administrative actions from becoming fresh sources of tension for communities living along the disputed boundary.
Court order affects eviction dispute
The recent flare-up is also linked to a longer-running dispute over eviction in the area.
Patton told the Assembly that 205 households had received eviction notices during a joint eviction drive in August 2025. Of these, 146 households were subsequently evicted, while the eviction of the remaining 59 households was stayed by the court.
According to Patton, the Gauhati High Court, in an order issued on August 18, 2026, granted the 59 families an additional 60 days to vacate the area.
The issue remains sensitive because the disputed belt is home to communities whose livelihoods and daily movement are closely connected to the area.
Oil exploration adds another layer
During the Assembly discussion, Kikon also raised concerns over alleged oil survey and drilling activities in the DAB. He referred to a representation from the Yamhon Area Public Organisation opposing alleged ONGC drilling-related work near Lio-Wokha Oil, close to Hayiyan village under Bhandari subdivision in Wokha district.
Kikon sought clarification on whether the activity had received the required approval from the Nagaland government. He also called for the work to be kept in abeyance if necessary until the matter is resolved under the tripartite memorandum of understanding between Nagaland, Assam and the Centre concerning oil and other minerals in the disputed belt.
The oil exploration issue has added to concerns over activities taking place in an already sensitive area. The Nagaland government has indicated that such matters need to be handled through established coordination mechanisms.
Government seeks to prevent another escalation
The immediate priority for the state government is to maintain calm and ensure that border residents are not caught in further confrontations. Patton said the situation is currently under control and assured the Assembly that the government is giving the issue top priority.
For residents, however, effective coordination will be crucial. The latest developments have highlighted how disputes over plantation activities, evictions, movement and resource exploration can quickly create tension in the border belt.
The Nagaland government’s emphasis on joint action with Assam is therefore aimed at ensuring that administrative decisions do not trigger further conflict. Continued dialogue between officials, along with protection for vulnerable border communities, will remain central to keeping the Nagaland Assam border peaceful.
As authorities monitor the situation, the focus now remains on preventing unilateral action, addressing pending disputes through legal and administrative channels, and ensuring the safety of Naga villages and residents living in the disputed areas.
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