Tensions are once again on edge in the volatile Merapani sector along the Assam–Nagaland border following the assault of three youth from Assam on Independence Day by alleged miscreants.
The incident, which left one youth critically injured after being shot with an air gun, has triggered a wave of outrage across Upper Assam and reignited anxieties over the fragile peace in the border belt.
According to police officials, the attack took place on August 15 when three youth from Kadamguri village — Simsat Basumatary, Subrat Nayak, and Prakash Boro — were returning from a picnic in a forest area falling under Nagaland’s jurisdiction.
They were reportedly ambushed by a group of armed miscreants. Basumatary and Nayak were severely beaten, while Boro sustained a gunshot wound while attempting to flee. He remains under medical care.
A late-night joint operation by Nagaland Police and the CRPF on Friday led to the arrest of three suspects identified as Takhai Sumi, Honito Yepthomi, and Kahosa Thimo.
Officials confirmed that the trio has been taken into custody for their direct involvement in the assault.
Before the arrests, Bir Lachit Sena had threatened to block the entry of Nagas into Merapani if the culprits were not apprehended immediately.
Following the police action, the organisation temporarily suspended its protest programmes but warned that it would “remain vigilant.”
Other regional organisations, including the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) and the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP), condemned the attack, urging the Assam government to ensure the security of border residents and prevent further flare-ups
“The border areas cannot be allowed to become a zone of fear. The safety of Assamese citizens must be the government’s top priority,” AJYCP leaders said in a statement.
The Bir Lachit Sena further alleged that Nagas have been attempting to “destabilize peace” in the region, particularly in the aftermath of eviction drives targeting illegal settlers.
The Merapani sector, located along the Assam–Nagaland border in Golaghat district, has long been a flashpoint of conflict.
Since Nagaland’s creation in 1963, inter-state boundary disputes have repeatedly led to violence, displacement, and mistrust. Merapani, in particular, witnessed major clashes in 1985 that claimed several lives, and sporadic skirmishes continue to disrupt peace.
Despite the formation of several joint committees and the deployment of central forces, local organisations on both sides often accuse each other of encroachment and provocation.