The Nagaland State Government on June 13, undertook a major eviction drive at Diphupar Village to reclaim government-acquired land that had been illegally encroached upon. The operation followed a recent Gauhati High Court order that upheld the State’s ownership of the disputed land.
The eviction was carried out under directives from the Commissioner of Nagaland and led by the Deputy Commissioners of Dimapur and Chümoukedima. The move follows a prolonged legal dispute concerning land under Dag Nos. 38 and 40 of Diphupar Village, which had been acquired by the government and leased to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for expansion of the Dimapur Airport.
Addressing the media after the operation, Chümoukedima Deputy Commissioner, Polan John stated that 22 individuals were found to be illegally occupying the airport land. Although their land documents were registered under Ekranipathar village, the occupants had encroached upon land within Diphupar jurisdiction.
A notice under the Nagaland Eviction of Persons in Unauthorized Occupation of Public Land Act, 1971, was issued by the DC of Dimapur on December 5, 2019, giving the encroachers 15 days to respond. Following the lapse of the notice period, eviction orders were issued on December 21, 2019, and December 11, 2020.
Download Nagaland Tribune app on Google Play
However, the eviction was delayed due to a status quo order issued by the Gauhati High Court. After the State Government sought modification of the interim relief, the Court vacated the order on January 1, 2020. Further legal hurdles included a temporary injunction granted by a Civil Judge in Dimapur, which was later upheld by the Principal District and Sessions Judge. Eventually, the Gauhati High Court quashed all lower court orders on May 27, 2025, clearing the way for the eviction.
The joint eviction drive was carried out by the district administrations of Dimapur and Chümoukedima, with support from police, various departments, and in the presence of independent observers including tribal bodies, civil society organizations (CSOs), and neighboring village councils. A total of 24 structures—including four RCC buildings, three semi-pucca houses, and 17 thatched houses—were demolished.
Dimapur Deputy Commissioner, Dr Tinojongshi Chang confirmed that the disputed land had been legally acquired and handed over to Airports Authority of India (AAI). He raised concerns over alleged tampering of official land records, noting that land entries had been overwritten from 27 bighas to 47 bighas, and trace maps of mutation records were missing from files.
He revealed that the illegal mutations took place between 2012 and 2015 and are currently under investigation. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted to probe the matter, and the allotment orders and land pattas of the encroachers have already been canceled.
Responding to claims that the encroachers were denied an opportunity to appeal in the Supreme Court, Dr. Chang clarified that the High Court judgment on May 27 had provided ample time for legal recourse. He emphasized that sufficient notices and grace periods had already been granted.
Regarding whether the eviction also targeted paramilitary establishments, Dr. Chang stated that the drive affected only public encroachers occupying around 17.9 acres of land. Matters concerning CRPF and Assam Rifles camps are being handled separately, he said, adding that a 2024 survey had directed the Assam Rifles to relocate their camp to Shokhuvi.
Dr. Chang expressed gratitude to CSOs, tribal leaders, and village councils for their cooperation in ensuring a smooth and lawful eviction process.
