Eviction Drive in Assam Sparks Alerts in Nagaland, Meghalaya, and Manipur

Bongaigaon Times: Northeast : 29th July 2025
As Assam prepares for a major eviction drive on Friday in Uriamghat, located in Golaghat district near the Nagaland border, hundreds of residents have reportedly fled the area fearing displacement. The Assam government claims that undocumented immigrants have encroached upon forest land and cultivated crops such as betel, prompting a series of clearance operations.

The state's chief minister reiterated his administration’s firm stance against illegal settlers, asserting that large swathes of land particularly in districts like Goalpara and Darrang have been freed from what the government identifies as encroachers.

This impending eviction has triggered security concerns in neighboring states. Nagaland, Meghalaya, and even Manipur which does not share a direct border with Assam have all issued alerts. Officials in these states are wary of a potential influx of displaced individuals from Assam, especially those identified as undocumented immigrants.

In Nagaland, preventive measures have been heightened, especially along the porous interstate border. According to Dimapur’s police commissioner, checkpoints have been reinforced and mobile patrols deployed in sensitive areas. Districts sharing borders with Assam, including Mokokchung, Peren, and Wokha, have been instructed to remain vigilant.

Similarly, Meghalaya’s additional chief secretary issued directives to district officers, urging them to step up border surveillance and prevent any spillover from Assam. He cited the ongoing deportation of alleged foreigners from Assam as a point of concern for Meghalaya’s demographic stability.

Manipur also responded with an advisory despite not sharing a direct boundary with Assam. State authorities expressed concern over attempts by some people from Manipur to settle illegally in Assam, which were reportedly thwarted. Given the state’s international border with crisis-hit Myanmar, the government pointed to a broader risk of illegal migration and instructed its officials to enhance monitoring mechanisms, conduct biometric registrations of any individuals found crossing unlawfully, and ensure that they are housed separately without being absorbed into local populations.

All three states emphasized the need to safeguard local law and order, maintain demographic balance, and process any undocumented individuals through appropriate legal and humanitarian protocols.

Sannya Sangma,
Bongaigaon Times