Dimapur Airport Eviction Drive: 22 structures demolished after High Court clears legal hurdles

The Airports Authority of India (AAI), along with the district administrations of Dimapur and Chümoukedima, executed a long-pending eviction order on Friday, June 13, at the Dimapur Airport, clearing 22 individuals found to be in illegal occupation of government land. The coordinated operation was carried out with the support of local authorities, police, and in the presence of independent observers and civil society bodies.

Addressing the media, the Deputy Commissioner of Chümoukedima stated that the operation involved evicting individuals who were “in illegal occupation of Dimapur Airport land.” He clarified that while the encroachers’ land documents pertained to EkraniPatar village, “they were actually occupying land at dag number 38 and 40 of Diphupar village.”

As per records, the Deputy Commissioner of Dimapur had issued a notice on December 5, 2019, under Section 5(1) of the Nagaland Eviction of Persons in Unauthorized Occupation of Public Land Act, 1971, “calling upon the 22 individuals… to show cause within 15 days as to why an eviction order under Section 6(1) of the Act should not be passed against them.” With no satisfactory response, eviction orders were subsequently passed, directing the encroachers “to vacate and deliver possession of the public land covered by dag number 38 and 40 at Diphupar after removing all buildings, structures thereon.”

However, the eviction process faced multiple legal delays. A status quo order issued by the Guwahati High Court temporarily stalled proceedings. Though the State Government sought modification, the status quo was only vacated on January 8, 2020, following which the DC Office issued another five-day extension on December 11, 2020.

Before eviction could be carried out, a temporary injunction was issued by the Court of the Civil Judge, Dimapur, which was later upheld by the Principal District and Sessions Judge. The deadlock was finally resolved when the Guwahati High Court (Principal Bench), in CRP No. 104/2024, quashed the temporary injunction on May 27, 2025. This judicial clearance enabled the authorities to proceed with the eviction orders dated December 21, 2019, and December 11, 2020.

According to the administration, a total of 24 structures were demolished during the drive—4 RCC buildings, 3 semi-pucca buildings, and 17 thatch houses—even though “encroachers were numbering to 22.” The district administration emphasized that the operation was conducted in the presence of tribal bodies, civil society organisations from both Dimapur and Chümoukedima, and village councils of the neighboring areas to ensure transparency.

DC Dimapur, Tinojongshi, further clarified that the disputed land was previously under dag no. 79 (EkraniPatar) but had since been designated under dag nos. 38 and 40 (Diphupar). “This land has been purchased by the Government and handed over to the Airport Authority,” he stated.

He also conveyed his appreciation to all stakeholders involved. “I convey my gratitude to the civil societies from Dimapur, Chümoukedima, the village councils from nearby areas, the administration, and the police from Dimapur & Chümoukedima for their cooperation to witness the eviction process, which ended in progress,” he said.

31 accused in Dimapur Airport land encroachment case, chargesheets filed against 25

In connection with the illegal land encroachment at Dimapur Airport by private individuals, the State Crime Police Station (SCPS) has filed chargesheets against 25 accused following a detailed investigation. The action comes after the Home Department, Government of Nagaland, directed a Preliminary Enquiry into allegations of “illegal encroachment by preparation of forged and fabricated documents.”

Based on the findings of the preliminary enquiry, authorities confirmed that “prima facie a cognizable offence was made out,” leading to the registration of a regular criminal case (FIR) at the SCPS, Police Headquarters (PHQ).

A Special Investigating Team (SIT) was constituted specifically for the case. According to the Superintendent of Police, SCRB & PRO, PHQ, the SIT conducted a “thorough investigation into all aspects of the crime” and “duly collected and scrutinized the evidence.” Following this, 31 (thirty-one) accused persons were identified, which includes 6 (six) Public Servants and 25 (twenty-five) private individuals.

The SIT recommended that all 31 individuals be chargesheeted for “Criminal Conspiracy, Cheating, Forgery and other Criminal Acts under IPC.” After receiving the necessary approvals from the competent authority, chargesheets were filed against 25 private individuals in the Hon’ble Court at Dimapur.

For the remaining 6 public servants, the SIT and the investigating officer have “prayed for obtaining Sanction for Prosecution from the Department of Personnel & Administrative Reforms (P&AR) and the Department of Land Records, Nagaland, as required by law.”

MT