As dialogue between the Governments of Nagaland and Assam are underway to work out possibilities of joint oil exploration in the Disputed Area Belts (DAB), illegal activities allegedly carried out by the ONGC at Longstiri village under Bhandari Sub division, Changpang Block, Wokha district was reported on 25 April 2023. Oil and Natural Gas Corporation is the largest government-owned-oil and gas explorer and producer in India.

As soon as reports of survey being carried out by the ONGC was reported, the village councils and the villagers swung to the location and stopped the activities. It was reported to the Administration and Police, and thereafter, 9 persons claiming to be ONGC employees were arrested and kept under custody.

The Changpang Oil reservoir has been closed for more than 2 decades now.

Mhonthung Kithan, Head GB of Longstiri sharing the ordeal said that a group of people from Kolkata came to the Longstiri village claiming that they were from the ONGC and had come for a survey. The group from Kolkata did not possess any licence for exploration either, he said. The village council, stakeholders and landowners did not allow the group to perform their activities as they did not possess any licence from the Nagaland government.

Despite the order from the council, the group brought all kinds of machinery and camped at Longstiri village and started performing their activities which compelled the council to report to the OC of Changpang Village and the employees along with their machineries were taken to the police station.

The demarcations allegedly placed by ONGC in the fields at Longstiri village, Wokha.

Nrao Odyuo chairman of the village also urged the Nagaland government to emphasise on the disturbed area belt as they have been facing many issues from the neighbouring state Assam and also maintained that if issues are left unattended, bigger problems will arise in the near future.

Landowners also stated that the Nagaland government does not pay heed to any issues flagged by the village. The landowners also urged the state government to look kindly look into the matter.

Meanwhile, an eyewitness also claimed that ONGC employees informed the council that they were following the orders of their supervisors, who had demarcated areas meant for drilling and sent them to start the work. He further said that ONGC, being a reputed company, should not be involved in such activities and cause differences between the Naga and Assamese communities.

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MLA Achumbemo Kikon, who represents 40 Bhandari constituency said that illegal activities have been going on for many years by the ONGC and the villagers have been very prompt in reporting the matter to the state government however, no permanent solution has been found so far and this time too the employees of the ONGC were caught surveying the oil deposits in the heart of Longstiri village and this area does not fall under the DAB.

Kikon said the ONGC should not indulge in such activities and stop immediately.

Surprisingly, despite having an EAC post in the Changpang block, no officer has been posted yet, this was also confirmed by Kikon. He also informed that there is also one police company post, but no police have been deployed in the post. To this, he said due to the lack of administration and police all illegal activities from Assam is being encouraged and the villagers are left without any protection.

He said he will take the matter to the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister and raise the issue of illegal activities being carried out and also ensure that an EAC and the police company is deployed.

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that the 9 persons who were arrested on 25 April on the charge of intruding into and exploring oil at Longstiri village under Wokha District without the knowledge of the Government of Nagaland, have already been released on bail by the ADC Bhandari on 26 April.