Mon Jul 28 20:10:00 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing the provided text, written from an Indian perspective:

**Assam’s Eviction Drive Sparks Controversy, Naga Group Accuses State of Land Grab**

**Guwahati, July 29, 2025 (The Hindu)** – A planned eviction drive by the Assam government in the Uriamghat area of Golaghat district has ignited a fresh row, with the Niki Sumi faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) accusing Assam of attempting to seize ancestral Naga lands. The area in question, bordering Nagaland, is designated as a ‘disturbed area belt’ (DAB).

The NSCN faction alleges that the Assam government is using the guise of evicting encroachers to encroach on Naga territory, claiming that the pre-1947 demarcations established by the British, which designated the land as a DAB, were implemented without Naga consultation. According to the NSCN faction, Assam has been settling “illegal Bangladeshi immigrants” in the DAB with the ultimate aim of evicting them later and subsequently claiming the land for itself. The NSCN also accuses the Assam government of permanently stationing Assam Police in the DAB, which they view as a violation of the status quo agreement between Assam and Nagaland.

The accusation comes amidst a long-standing border dispute between Assam and Nagaland, a conflict that has claimed over 150 lives since Nagaland was formed in 1963. Despite numerous rounds of talks, the dispute remains unresolved, though a status quo agreement has been in place for over a decade. The NSCN faction emphasizes that Assam’s boundary disputes with other northeastern states highlight its territorial ambitions.

The group has urged the Naga population to pressure the Nagaland government to reinforce security along its border with Assam. They specifically called for increased recruitment and deployment of police, home guards, and village guards.

On the ground, Assam’s authorities are planning to clear approximately 11,000 bighas of land in Uriamghat. The proposed eviction drive was initially planned for Tuesday, however, it has now been delayed. According to Gunadeep Das, Golaghat’s Divisional Forest Officer, land survey operations are still underway. He also reported that approximately 60% of the 15,000 residents, mostly Muslims, in Uriamghat have already left following the issuance of eviction notices.

This action is part of a broader series of eviction drives conducted by the Assam government since June, which has seen at least 55,000 people, predominantly Muslims with roots in Bangladesh, removed from forest land, grazing land, and government-owned land. These actions have raised concerns about the impact on vulnerable communities, drawing scrutiny both within India and internationally.

Read More