WOKHA, Oct 18: The eviction of 59 houses at Mekirang village along the Assam–Nagaland border near Merapani has renewed concerns over the longstanding boundary dispute, with Lotha leaders calling for a permanent settlement and better road connectivity to protect border communities.
The joint eviction drive was carried out by the Assam and Nagaland governments on October 17 in the presence of Wokha Deputy Commissioner K. Mhathung Tsanglao, Superintendent of Police T. Relo Aye, the border magistrate and civil society representatives.
In the wake of the eviction, Mekirang Village Council chairman Sorenthung Lotha urged both governments to resolve the border dispute through dialogue and mutual understanding, warning that continued uncertainty was affecting communities living along the boundary.
He drew attention to the difficulties faced by Mekirang, Lio Longchum and Longayim villages, which remain dependent on Assam for transportation and access to essential services because of the lack of proper road connectivity along the Marachu–Mekirang route.
Sorenthung said the Lotha Lower Range Public Organisation (LLRPO), along with local residents, had launched a crowdfunding initiative to build a motorable road. However, the funds raised so far were insufficient to advance the project, he said, appealing to the public and well-wishers for support.
The demand for connectivity comes amid renewed anxiety over the border dispute, with residents facing practical difficulties reaching essential services and travelling during periods of tension.
LLRPO secretary Zathungo Yanthan said the eviction should not be treated as grounds for transferring land or weakening Naga land rights. He urged the Assam and Nagaland governments to work towards a mutually acceptable and lasting settlement.
Yanthan also stressed that the villages’ dependence on routes through Assam left them vulnerable whenever tensions flared along the border.
He called for at least a chip-sealed road along the Marachu–Mekirang route, saying reliable connectivity was essential for the safety, mobility and long-term survival of the affected communities.
Also Read: Manipur: One killed, four injured in armed attack near Myanmar border
Also Watch
Find latest news from every corner of Northeast India at hubnetwork.in, your online source for breaking news, video coverage.
Also, Follow us on-
Twitter-twitter.com/nemediahub
Youtube channel- www.youtube.com/@NortheastMediaHub2020
Instagram- www.instagram.com/ne_media_hub
Download our app from playstore – Northeast Media Hub
The post Mekirang eviction revives Assam–Nagaland border concerns; Lotha leaders seek road, land rights protection appeared first on Hub News.