Tension heightened along the Assam-Nagaland border as nine organizations imposed economic blockade at Rangajan junction from 11 a.m. Saturday morning blocking National Highway-29 leading to Dimapur and affecting Nagaland including Manipur.

Sources told Nagaland Post that by Monday, the economic blockade could be “severe” as some of the nine organisations from Assam behind the belligerence, are known to be hard line bodies especially on border issue.

Sources also advised travelers from Nagaland passing through Rangajan junction to be alert and advised to avoid the route from Monday till normalcy returned.
Assam protestors have enforced blockades in three routes leading to Nagaland from Golagahat - Doyang, Rangajan and Kamarbandha.

Sources in Nagaland-Assam border said that the issue was not likely to settle down soon as Assam was already hard pressed with a number of issues that have hit national headlines including the Bodo-Minority immigrants clash and the exodus of Northeast people from other parts of India.

At the core of the issue was the 250 bighas of land which Mekirang village under Wokha district maintained as its traditional land.
Adivasis were allowed to set up Gauri basti to cultivate on payment of annual land tax. However, at the instigation of some civil societies, Adivasis of Gaur basti refused to pay anymore tax and instead have laid claim to the entire low land including upper stretches on the hills overlooking the area.

On Friday, Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chatra Parishad (AJYCP), Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) and All Tea Tribes Students’ Union and several others, attempted to march to the area along with fully armed Assam Police and ‘Neutral forces’ (CRPF). When a platoon of NAP personnel tried to diffuse the situation, they were allegedly rebuffed and warned. Villagers of Mekirang were reportedly preparing for any eventuality.   

MVC reasserts ownership
 Mekirang Village Council Saturday asserted that the 250 bighas belonged to Mekirang village, Bhandari sub-division under Wokha district which has been encroached by Advasis working in the village.

Village chairman of Mekirang told Nagaland Post that Advasis of Gaur Basti were cultivating paddy fields of Mekirang village “by force” with pressure from nine organizations in Assam and laying claim to it.

The chairman claimed that though settlers of Gaur Basti knew the facts, yet they were being put under “immense pressure from Assam side”.  
Three rounds of talks between Gaur Basti and Mekirang village took place on August 8, 11, and 13 but failed to break the deadlock.

A stand-off between Gaur basti and Mekirang on August ensued when Adivasis tried to forcibly cross the Mekirang River towards the hill section to work in the field.
The situation was however diffused after the intervention of higher authorities from both Golaghat and Wokha.