Tension emerges over land encroachment in Merapani

Amidthe coronavirus outbreak, tensions have emerged in Merapani at theAssam-Nagaland border.

TheNagas who were evicted from the land of Dighalpani have now settled in a nearbyslum called Ili Yan. The Nagas were instructed by the Assam forest departmentin 1971 to settle here however they do not want to evacuate now.

The Nagas have encroached agricultural lands in the Dighalpani area. Earlier, they had been evicted twice from the region. The farmers and local villagers are concerned that the Nagas will dig a big canal and invade the Assam lands.

Thevillagers demanded that the government of Assam, Merapani Police and the CRPFtake appropriate action against the aggressors who were not allowed to enterAssam. Otherwise, the border situation is likely to heat up.