A fresh territorial dispute has erupted along the Assam-Nagaland border in Merapani concerning the impending eviction of 59 families, after a Naga organisation asserted that the disputed territory falls within Nagaland. The latest controversy is centered around No. 2 Negheribil, where the 59 households are currently facing eviction proceedings, reigniting long-standing jurisdictional friction between the two neighboring states.
Naga Organisation Intervention and Competing Claims
The Lotha Lower Range Public Organisation (LLRPO) has formally urged the Nagaland government to intervene in the matter, maintaining that the contested land forms an integral part of Lukhaium and Mikir Basti within Nagaland. The organisation asserted that it possesses documentation indicating that some of the current occupants legitimately purchased land in the area.
Armed with these claims, the LLRPO strongly opposed what it characterized as a unilateral eviction drive initiated by Assam authorities, prompting the Nagaland government to step in. These assertions immediately drew sharp reactions across Assam, where local groups and residents firmly rejected the notion that the disputed land belongs to Nagaland while criticizing the external organisation's interference.
Legal Background and Previous Eviction Actions
This latest development has significantly escalated tensions in the borderlands, where land ownership and administrative jurisdiction have remained contentious issues for years. Back in 2025, eviction notices were reportedly served to a total of 205 families, resulting in 146 of those families being successfully evicted from the site.
However, the remaining 59 families chose to approach the court system, which temporarily halted any further displacement proceedings. Following relevant court directives and subsequent legal procedures, the local district administration and Forest Department announced on August 16 that they would proceed with issuing new notices, conducting proper land demarcation, and executing further action against the remaining settlements.
Heightened Border Tensions
The intervention by the LLRPO has injected a fresh territorial claim into an already complicated administrative dispute, adding another layer of complexity to the legal status of the land and the uncertain future of the remaining households. As local communities on both sides voice opposing stances, the situation in the border region remains fragile.
