Tensions are high along the Assam-Nagaland border after suspected miscreants from Nagaland allegedly crossed into Assam's Golaghat district and set houses ablaze in the early hours of Friday. The incident occurred in Tengatal, a village in Uriamghat Sector B under Sarupathar subdivision.
According to officials, the attackers targeted the village while residents were asleep, resulting in the destruction of multiple homes and significant property damage. Reports indicate that approximately 90 houses were set on fire. The assailants also reportedly fired shots into the air, inciting panic among the predominantly Muslim community. Villagers fled their homes in fear, with many seeking refuge in nearby rivers, paddy fields, forests, and bamboo groves. The Namghar (community prayer hall) was reportedly the only structure spared from the fire.
The motive behind the cross-border attack remains unknown, and authorities have launched an investigation. Some reports suggest the attack may be linked to land claims, with the miscreants allegedly claiming the village land as theirs and demanding the villagers leave before setting the houses ablaze.
Personnel from the police, CRPF, forest department, and civil administration responded to the scene to bring the situation under control. While officials have contained the immediate threat, tensions remain high along the Assam-Nagaland interstate border. Additional security has been deployed to prevent any further escalation in the volatile border region.
Due to the remoteness of the affected villages, detailed assessments of the damage are still underway. However, reports confirm significant property damage, with many residents displaced and in urgent need of assistance. Relief operations are ongoing to provide shelter, food, and essential supplies to affected families.
Sarupathar MLA Biswajit Phukan strongly condemned the incident and urged the Chief Minister to take the strictest possible action. The incident underscores the continuing tensions along the Assam-Nagaland border, where repeated disputes over land have led to recurring violence.
