Nagaland's Deputy Chief Minister Y. Patton has confirmed that representatives of the state government will soon meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to resolve the ongoing border dispute with Assam.
Patton made this announcement on Tuesday during a visit to Tuli in Mokokchung district, which borders Assam. He was accompanied by local MLA A. Pangjung Jamir, Nagaland Director General of Police Rupin Sharma, and district administration officers, according to an official statement released on Wednesday.
During the visit, Patton and his team inspected several key locations, including the Assam Police Commando Battalion camp at Septsuyong Lu in Kangtsung village, as well as Wameken Yimsen village. The visit aimed to assess the ground situation and engage with local stakeholders amid escalating tensions in the disputed border area.
In conversations with the villagers and representatives of Ao Senden, the apex tribal body of the district, Patton reassured them that the Nagaland government was taking the border dispute very seriously.
He informed the villagers that the state cabinet had met on 9 October to deliberate on the issue, and letters had been sent to the Prime Minister, Home Minister, and Assam Chief Minister, requesting discussions to resolve the matter.
“The state cabinet is fully committed to addressing the issue, and a meeting with the central government and Assam leadership will happen soon,” Patton said during his discussions with the community.
He also emphasised the importance of maintaining local land ownership and urged villagers not to sell their land to non-indigenous people, citing concerns about preserving regional identity and territorial rights.
Long-standing dispute
Nagaland and Assam share a 512.1 km interstate border, much of which has been a source of contention for decades. The Disputed Area Belt (DAB), where both states accuse each other of encroaching on land, has been the focal point of multiple clashes over the years.
The dispute has also been the subject of a long-standing legal battle, currently being adjudicated by the Supreme Court. Despite ongoing negotiations between the two states, tensions continue to flare periodically, often leading to violent confrontations between residents and police forces from both sides.
Patton's visit to the border areas was part of the Nagaland government’s broader efforts to de-escalate the situation while preparing for upcoming talks with the central government and Assam.
The state government hopes that the upcoming discussions will help bring about a long-term resolution to the dispute, ensuring peace and security for residents of the affected areas.
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