Assam-Nagaland Border Dispute: Dissoi Forest Set Ablaze, Locals Blame Naga Communities
Why in News?
- A section of the Dissoi Valley Reserve Forest, located along the Assam-Nagaland border, was allegedly set on fire by individuals from Nagaland on March 27, 2025. This incident has further escalated tensions in the long-standing border dispute between the two states.
Important Key Points:
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Incident Details: On March 27, 2025, sections of the Dissoi Valley Reserve Forest in Mariani, Jorhat district, Assam, were reportedly set on fire by individuals suspected to be from Nagaland. This act has intensified tensions along the Assam-Nagaland border.
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Recent Similar Incidents: This event follows a similar incident on March 20, 2025, when the Tiru Hills Reserve Forest was burned, indicating a pattern of escalating confrontations in the region.
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Local Allegations: Residents of Mariani allege that individuals from Nagaland are deliberately setting fires as part of a land encroachment strategy. They claim that such actions are aimed at asserting control over disputed territories along the border.
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Historical Context: The Assam-Nagaland border has been a longstanding area of contention since Nagaland’s formation in 1963. Disputes over land have led to multiple clashes over the decades, including significant incidents in 1968, 1979, 1985, and 2014.
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Government Response: Efforts have been made to address these disputes, including a Memorandum of Understanding signed in July 2021 to ease tensions and withdraw police forces from certain areas. However, incidents like the recent arson suggest that border tensions remain unresolved.
