Uriamghat, August 12: A troubling escalation occurred at the Assam-Nagaland border in Uriamghat on Monday night, marked by multiple rounds of blank firing and the burning of a house in the disputed area of Thuribari. This incident has incited fear among local residents and prompted allegations of a calculated effort to impede eviction drives in the Rengma forest area.
Villagers reported that around five shots were fired into the air from Liphain, close to Thuribari. The gunfire triggered panic in nearby communities, including Janakpur, Ranipukhuri, Krishnapur, and Shantipur, predominantly inhabited by the Kachari community. At the same time, a fire broke out at the residence of Salam Ali, a local individual.
Witnesses recounted that the border magistrate, along with officers from the Uriamghat Police Station and CRPF personnel, quickly arrived on the scene. However, numerous locals voiced disappointment with how the officials handled the situation. The village head alleged that when two CRPF members came to assess the fire, they only engaged with the Naga residents and disregarded the local villagers, even hindering them from capturing videos while allowing the Naga side to film without restriction.
Locals suspect the fire might have been intentionally set following a survey for eviction conducted earlier that day on Salam Ali’s property. A resident remarked, “The main house remained untouched; only the warehouse and farmhouse burned. This raises doubts about whether the incident was orchestrated to implicate the Naga side and derail the eviction drive.”
Furthermore, the village head claimed this episode was part of a larger strategy to encroach on Assamese territory. “I distinctly heard five gunshots that night, as did others. This land belongs to Assam, and the Nagas are trying to claim it. We urge the Chief Minister to ensure we lose not an inch. Since last year, there have been efforts to create disturbances. This area is primarily home to Bodo people who have resisted such advances. The firing and the arson seem premeditated to incite a conflict,” he stated.
In response, an All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) leader called for robust security measures in the sensitive border region. “Regardless of whether the attackers were Nagas or otherwise, the offenders must face severe consequences. The house had not been evicted; only a notice was issued,” the AASU member told The Assam Tribune.
As of this report, authorities, including the police, have yet to release an official statement regarding the incident.
Original Source: https://assamtribune.com/assam/panic-in-uriamghat-as-blank-firing-house-arson-raise-assam-nagaland-border-tensions-1588125
Category: Assam,Featured
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Publish Date: 2025-08-12 18:05:00
