Assam-Nagaland Border Dispute: Farmers Rally Against Merapani Farm Eviction, Demand Justice
Tensions Escalate Along Assam-Nagaland Border Amid Farmer Protest
Golaghat, April 6: A massive protest by over 1,000 farmers in the Merapani Bholaguri seed farm in Golaghat district of Assam has sparked tensions along the Assam-Nagaland border. The farmers, who have been cultivating the land for over five decades, are resisting a recent directive by the Nagaland government to cease seed farming activities and vacate the land. The order, allegedly made to pave the way for oil palm cultivation, has been met with outrage among local farmers.
The 1,200-acre seed farm, located in the disputed Merapani border region, has long been a flashpoint of controversy between Assam and Nagaland. The matter is currently under consideration by the Supreme Court of India, with no conclusive action taken to resolve the territorial issue. Amidst this legal ambiguity, the sudden directive by the Nagaland government has been seen as a move to assert territorial control and transition the region’s use from seed farming to oil palm plantations.
Addressing the protesters, Bidyut Saikia, general secretary of the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), condemned the directive. “This land has been nurtured by Assamese farmers for generations. Ordering them to stop seed farming and vacate is an act of aggression. Both the Nagaland and Assam governments have failed these people. Where are the ministers, MLAs, and district officials when our people are threatened?” he said.
Farmers also accused the Assam government of prolonged silence and negligence in asserting its territorial claim and protecting its people. “We vote here, we pay taxes here, yet we live in fear,” said one protester. “We have cultivated this land for generations. Suddenly, the Nagaland government says we must vacate. If any agreement was made with Nagaland, the Chief Minister must reveal it. Otherwise, this move is completely unacceptable.”
Farmers are also raising alarm over the environmental consequences of oil palm plantations, which have been widely criticized for causing deforestation and soil degradation in several countries. “In Goalpara and even Indonesia, oil palm has turned fertile land barren. Are we next?” asked a concerned protester.
The protesters have vowed to resist any attempt to displace them or convert their farmland into industrial plantations without due consultation or consent. With no administrative presence on the ground, including the absence of CRPF or local law enforcement, locals fear that further conflict could erupt.
As the inter-state border dispute reignites, farmers are calling on both state governments and the Supreme Court to intervene urgently and provide clarity, justice, and security to the people who have lived and worked on this land for generations.
Original Source: https://assamtribune.com/assam/farmers-protest-eviction-order-at-merapani-farm-amid-assamnagaland-border-row-1573465
Category : Assam,Featured
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Publish Date: 2025-04-06 16:27:00
