Jorhat, July 3: The Assam-Nagaland border is witnessing renewed tensions as new allegations of land encroachment emerge from the Dissoi Valley Reserve Forest in Mariani, located in Jorhat district.

Local residents and student organizations have accused armed individuals from Nagaland of illegally seizing land, clearing forest areas, and establishing settlements without any repercussions.

A delegation from the Tai Ahom Students’ Union visited the sites in question on Thursday, expressing serious concerns regarding what they termed as the unchecked occupation of forest land.

The Union criticized the Assam government for its perceived inaction, threatening to initiate an economic blockade against Nagaland if the situation remains unresolved.

“From our observations today, it appears that approximately 90% of the Dissoi Valley Reserve Forest has been encroached upon. The Assam government has let us down, fearing retaliation and failing to assess the situation on the ground,” stated Dhrupad Lahon, president of the Union’s Jorhat Town Samiti.

Rajiv Gogoi, president of the Union’s Jorhat District Samiti, noted that the alleged encroachers have started cultivating rubber and betelnut on the seized land, while both the district administration and the Forest Department have ignored numerous complaints.

“The situation deteriorates daily. We have kept the authorities updated, but no action has been taken,” Gogoi remarked.

This incident marks the second escalation within a week. On June 27, residents of Mariani accused armed groups from Nagaland of forcibly clearing forest land in Nagajanka and establishing rubber plantations.

The newly established Bihato settlement within the Dissoi Valley Reserve Forest, part of the New Sonowal Range of the Mariani Forest Division, is cited as a recent example of alleged systematic encroachment.

Residents claim this follows the earlier Vikto Akahuto settlement, both reportedly constructed by armed settlers from Nagaland.

According to locals, around 15 houses were erected by alleged encroachers as recently as June 11, near the New Sonowal Forest Office and the Border Observation Post.

Despite these developments, authorities have yet to deploy additional security forces or engage in discussions with Nagaland to alleviate the tensions.

The issue of land encroachment by Nagaland is not a new phenomenon in the region. Over the past two years, there have been multiple reports of border skirmishes, including incidents of firing and abductions.

During the recent Budget session of the Assam Legislative Assembly, Border Protection and Development Minister Atul Bora revealed that nearly 83,000 hectares of land across 17 districts of Assam have been encroached upon by neighboring states, with Nagaland responsible for 59,490.21 hectares.

As local frustrations grow and no immediate action is taken by either the Assam government or the central authorities, the fragile peace along the interstate border remains precarious.