Merapani, August 18: The Assam administration has moved to resume an eviction drive targeting 59 families living at No. 2 Negheribil on the Assam–Nagaland border after the Supreme Court declined to extend protections that had delayed the operation. Golaghat district and the Forest Department officials visited the settlement and issued final notices asking the remaining families to vacate by August 18.
Preparations and legal background
Officials have carried out a detailed survey of the settlement, numbering houses and using drone cameras to map the area as part of operational preparations, the administration said. The move follows a protracted legal contest: the Forest Department earlier evicted 205 families from No. 2 Negheribil, while 59 households secured a stay by approaching the Gauhati High Court and then the Supreme Court. With the higher court having now cleared the way for the district administration and the Forest Department, authorities say they are prepared to proceed if the families do not vacate the area by the deadline.
Border management and interstate engagement
The development comes at a sensitive juncture in Assam–Nagaland relations. Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister and Minister in charge of Home and Border Affairs Y. Patton met Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in Guwahati on July 29 to discuss inter-state ties, cooperation and proposed oil and gas exploration along the border. Patton has publicly argued that border issues should be addressed through dialogue, joint action and coordination while respecting existing arrangements such as the 1972 Interim Agreement.
Nagaland has reiterated support for action against illegal encroachment but urged that any evictions or operations in sensitive border areas be carried out in coordination with the neighbouring state’s administration to avoid escalation. The latest steps by Assam therefore highlight both the legal clearance obtained by the state and the practical challenge of conducting enforcement while maintaining peace in a disputed border zone.
Local impact and what to expect
If the families do not vacate by the stipulated date, district authorities indicate the Golaghat administration is likely to proceed with the eviction drive. The situation at No. 2 Negheribil is being closely monitored by both state administrations and local security agencies. Observers say how the operation is executed — particularly whether notifications, alternative arrangements and coordination mechanisms are in place — will determine whether tensions rise or are contained.
- Location: No. 2 Negheribil (Assam–Nagaland border)
- Families previously evicted: 205
- Families facing renewed eviction: 59
- Deadline to vacate: August 18
Procedural details and security considerations
Authorities have used drone cameras to conduct a detailed survey and numbered houses in preparation for any operation. Such steps are generally intended to create an operational picture and to document occupancy and encroachment for administrative and legal records. The involvement of the Forest Department indicates the action is linked to claims of forest land encroachment.
Given the site’s location on a disputed border, the coordination between Assam and Nagaland administrations and adherence to agreed procedures will be important to prevent incidents. Past episodes along the Assam–Nagaland boundary have at times led to friction; senior officials from both states have emphasised dialogue and joint action in recent public statements.
Wider context
The No. 2 Negheribil case is one among several flashpoints along the long-running Assam–Nagaland border dispute. The 1972 Interim Agreement, referred to by Nagaland leaders, remains a touchstone in attempts to manage disagreements while talks continue. The renewed eviction move adds urgency to bilateral engagement on the ground — balancing legal enforcement against encroachment with the stated priority of preserving peace in border communities.
| Date/Action | Detail |
|---|---|
| Prior eviction | 205 families removed by Forest Department from No. 2 Negheribil |
| Stay obtained | 59 families sought stay from Gauhati High Court, later approached Supreme Court |
| Current status | Supreme Court clearance; final notice served; deadline August 18 |
| Recent engagement | Meeting between Nagaland Deputy CM Y. Patton and Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on July 29 |
As the deadline passes, the focus will be on whether the remaining families comply, whether Assam proceeds with enforcement, and how both states manage security and civil arrangements in a border area where stakes remain high for residents and administrations alike.
