Assam-Nagaland border tension? Nagaland officials call report ‘fabricated’

Did tensions truly erupt along the Assam-Nagaland border, or is misinformation at play?

On 4 February, 2025 at 3:51 PM, India Today NE published a report titled “Fresh tensions erupt at Assam-Nagaland border as shots fired near Magro BOP.”

According to the report, unidentified Naga miscreants allegedly fired shots into the air near the Magro Border Outpost (BOP) in Mariani, Assam, creating panic among residents. The report also stated that police teams from Mariani and Deberapara responded to assess the situation and strengthen security measures.

However, when MT inquired with Nagaland officials, they denied any knowledge of such an incident. The Border Magistrate of Tzurangkong, as well as other officials, stated they were unaware of any firing along the border.

“These reports appear to be fabricated to create unnecessary tension from Assam’s side. There might be ulterior motives behind such claims,” a Nagaland official told MT.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Mokokchung informed MT that the administration has instructed the Extra Assistant Commissioner (EAC) of Longchem and the Border Magistrate (BM) of Tzürangkong to “jointly give report on the fake news which came out from Assam side”.

“After compiling all of them will write to DC Jorhat to keep them in check,” the DC stated.

This is not the first time such reports have surfaced. On January 23, The Assam Tribune published a similar story, alleging that tensions had surged in Jorhat’s Rajabari due to encroachment and intimidation by ‘Naga miscreants.’

However, Nagaland officials had dismissed those claims as well.

“No news from our side. A BM-level [Border Magistrate] meeting was conducted today, but this issue was not raised, even by the BMs of both states,” a senior Nagaland official told MT at the time.
Another official had also confirmed that no such issue was brought up during a border meeting that continued until 4 PM that day.

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