Assam villagers protest ‘Niuland district’ gate near border, threaten road blockade

DIMAPUR — Residents of Chungajan in Assam’s Golaghat district have intensified protests against a gate reportedly installed by authorities from Nagaland’s Niuland district near the Assam–Nagaland border, according to a report by The Assam Tribune.

The structure, reportedly erected at Nabamilanpur village under the Chungajan area, bears the name of Niuland district of Nagaland and has drawn objections from residents who claim it represents an attempt to assert territorial control within Assam, the report stated.

Protesters warned that they would block key roads connecting Chungajan to Dimapur for 12 hours on March 7 if the gate is not removed.

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The residents had earlier organised a protest rally on February 17 and submitted a memorandum to the Assam government through the deputy commissioner of Golaghat district, seeking intervention and removal of the gate.

On Wednesday, demonstrators again staged protests in the area, burning tyres on the road and raising slogans against the alleged encroachment.

The protesters warned that if the authorities fail to remove the gate before March 7, residents themselves would dismantle it.

Essential services such as ambulances and school transport would be allowed during the proposed blockade, the report added.