GUWAHATI

A students’ body in Nagaland has warned against the possible inward movement of “alleged illegal immigrants” evicted from government land in Assam.

More than 50,000 people, mostly Bengali-speaking Muslims, have been evicted from reserve forests, wetlands, grazing lands, wastelands, etc., in northeastern and western Assam since June. Resistance to these drives claimed the life of one person in the Goalpara district a few days ago.

On Monday (July 21, 2025), the Western Sümi Students’ Union (WSSU) expressed deep concern over the ongoing eviction drive in Assam. Its president, Ikato Khulu, and general secretary, Vitoka N. Rochill, issued a statement, saying such drives are threatening areas inhabited by Nagas along the border with Assam.

“It is alarming that such activities are beginning to infringe upon Nagaland’s territory, posing a direct threat to the rightful ownership of our land and the safety and security of its residents. These border communities have lived peacefully for generations and have acted as de facto custodians of our State’s boundary,” they said.

Risk of conflict

“It is pertinent to mention that the alleged illegal immigrants reside near Naga-inhabited areas along the Assam-Nagaland border. This situation further heightens the risks of conflict, displacement, and demographic pressure on our vulnerable border communities,” they said.

The WSSU asked the Nagaland government to immediately deploy security forces “to deter unauthorised actions by external authorities” and ensure “swift and effective protection of our people.” It also sought steps to prevent a potential influx of illegal immigrants.

“The large-scale evictions, push-backs, and expedited deportations currently underway in Assam will likely trigger displacement-driven movement into Nagaland,” the union stated, resenting the “slow and inadequate” response of the Nagaland administration to the threat.

Dismantle SoO camps

In neighbouring Manipur, another Naga organisation has asked the Centre to immediately dismantle camps for Kuki extremist outfits located “in or around Naga ancestral territories” in the State. These groups had signed the Suspension of Operations (SoO) agreement with the Centre in 2008.

In a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Foothills Naga Coordination Committee accused the SoO groups of repeatedly violating the terms of the agreement. The committee cited a long list of alleged crimes and violent acts committed by these groups between 2023 and 2025, including extortion, assaults, kidnappings, and the burning of villages.

The committee said the SoO agreement “has become a sanctuary for armed criminals rather than a tool for peace. “The continued presence and reported relocation of SoO camps into Naga areas represent a direct threat to communal harmony, constitutional order, and national security,” it stated in the memorandum.

The committee warned that any attempt to impose such camps in Naga areas would be seen as an act of aggression.