Assam
Rilan Village in Nagaland
,
Daldali Reserve Forest
,
Karbi Anglong
Published :
Mar 2022
|
Updated :
Karbi Anglong Accuses Nagaland of Encroachment in Daldali Reserve Forest
Reported by
Emilo Yanthan
Legal Review by
Anmol Gupta
Edited by
Anupa Kujur
Households affected
People affected
2020
Year started
Land area affected
Households affected
People Affected
2020
Year started
Land area affected
Key Insights
Sector
Land Use
Reason/Cause of conflict
Border Dispute
Conflict Status
Ongoing
Ended
Legal Status
Region Classification
Urban
Ended
Sector
Land Use
Reason/Cause of conflict
Border Dispute
Conflict Status
Ongoing
Ended
Legal Status
Region Classification
Urban
Ended
1
Summary

In another incident of border dispute between Assam and Nagaland, the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) alleged ‘illegal encroachment’ in Daldali Reserve Forest in the district by Nagaland.

A team of officials, including the divisional forest officer, visited Pillar No. 1 in the forest in November 2020, which they claimed was removed by encroachers. In its place, a welcome gate has been reportedly erected by Nagaland, in addition to utility poles and two security camps. The officials claimed that people from Nagaland have built houses in the area and have named it Rilan village. According to the Karbi Anglong deputy commissioner (DC), the exact land area encroached by Nagaland can be ascertained only after examining the map.

Following reports of the encroachment, several Karbi organisations issued an ultimatum to the Nagaland government to stop encroachment in Daldali Reserve Forest. As the neighbouring state reportedly failed to comply and encroachment continued, a group of 12 organisations, including Karbi Students’ Association (KSA) and Assam Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad, launched an economic blockade against Nagaland on November 17, 2020. The blockade on two highways banned the entry of commercial vehicles and goods trucks from Nagaland.

The organisations called off the blockade momentarily after they were called for a meeting with the Karbi Anglong DC and superintendent of police. The organisations, led by KSA, submitted a list of six demands to the Assam chief minister, including the removal of houses and electric poles set up by Nagas within the Daldali Reserve Forest and the termination of land _pattas _(titles) given by the Nagaland government inside Assam. A member of the KSA stated that the economic blockade was not withdrawn but only called off for the time being and that the result of the meetings would determine the future course of action.

Responding to the blockade, Dimapur Deputy Commissioner R. Soundararajan stated that there was no encroachment from Nagaland in Assam and added that the economic blockade would not have any immediate effect as Nagaland had ample reserves of essential goods.

Subsequently, the DCs of Dimapur and Karbi Anglong, police commissioner of Dimapur and several officers from Karbi Anglong held a meeting on November 18, 2020,** to resolve the border dispute. The **Dimapur DC maintains that Nagaland does not approve of the boundary demarcation as per the British map and that the case is sub judice in the Supreme Court. He also claimed that the activities alleged by Karbi Anglong took place inside the jointly accepted settlement area in Nagaland.

2
Fact Sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Demand for legal recognition of land rights

Demand to retain/protect access to common land/resources

Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Region Classification

Urban

Type of Land

Common

Forest and Non-Forest

What was the action taken by the police?

How many people did the police detain or arrest?

What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?

Did the person face any violence while in police custody?

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?

Legislation under which the accused was charged

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)

Status of Project

Original Project Deadline

Whether the Project has been Delayed

Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users

Government or community-regulated urban commons

Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict

Source/Reference

Total investment involved (in Crores):

Type of investment:

Year of Estimation

Page Number In Investment Document:

Has the Conflict Ended?

No

When did it end?

Why did the conflict end?

4
Additional Information

Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:

Dimapur District Administration, Karbi Anglong District Admininstration

PSUs Involved in the Conflict:

Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?

No

Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached

Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:

Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?

Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:

Karbi Students’ Association, Assam Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad, Karbi Students and Youth Council, United Karbi Youth Association, Karbi Anglong Woman Justice Forum, Karbi Unemployed Youth Association, Assam Adivasi Students' Association, Hills Progressive Youth Association, United Karbi Anglong Women's Association, Karbi Farmers' Association, All Dimasa Students' Union, Assam Tea Tribe Students' Association

5
Information on the use of criminal law

What was the action taken by the police?

How many people did the police detain or arrest?

What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?

Did the person face any violence while in police custody?

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?

Legislation under which the accused was charged

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Legal Supporting Documents

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Author
Reported by
Emilo R. Yanthan

Emilo is pursuing her PhD in Political Science at the North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong. Her primary research areas include human and land rights and gender issues.

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Fact sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Demand for legal recognition of land rights

Demand to retain/protect access to common land/resources

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Status of Project

Original Project Deadline

Whether the Project has been Delayed

Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users

Government or community-regulated urban commons

Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict

Source/Reference

JOIN
THE LCW COMMUNITY
Exclusive monthly policy briefs, stories from the ground, Quarterly Analytics report, Curated Expert talks, merchandise and much more.


Support our work.
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