ARWO backs Assam’s forest eviction drive

All Rengma Welfare Organisation (ARWO) Assam-Nagaland, has lauded the Assam government, led by chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, for initiating the eviction of illegal settlers from the Rengma Reserve Forest under Uriamghat in Golaghat district.
In a press statement, ARWO president Akhu Kath and general secretary Tegibu Tep described the move as a “significant step” towards justice and the protection of indigenous rights. They said the forest, long subjected to encroachment, was not merely an ecological asset, but also held ancestral, cultural and historical value for the Rengma Nagas.
Highlighting the eviction as a vital step in restoring law and order while safeguarding indigenous land rights, ARWO urged the Assam government to sustain such interventions, ensure long-term forest protection, and initiate formal recognition of Rengma traditional land claims.
The organisation also appealed for permanent safeguards against future encroachments, asserting that consistent administrative vigilance was essential to preserving the ecological and cultural integrity of Rengma territories.
According to ARWO, the Rengma homeland encompasses the Rengma Reserve Forest, Rengma River Valley, Rengma Tea Estate, Nambor Reserve Forest, Gholapani, Haldibari, Lisagoan, Rengma Pathar, Uriamghat, Sarupathar, Naojan and Naokhuti areas—currently under Golaghat district.
It further includes Nambor Reserve Forest, Kaliani Reserve Forest, Dhansari Reserve Forest, Doldali Reserve Forest, and the Diphu and Jamuna River Valleys located in Karbi Anglong district, as well as parts of Nagaland, notably Tseminyu district.
ARWO therefore appreciated the Assam Chief Minister’s political will in addressing illegal migration, a longstanding issue across the Northeast. The organisation also acknowledged the role played by various civil society groups, youth organisations and Naga Political Groups (NPGs), and expressed gratitude to Nagaland chief minister Dr. Neiphiu Rio for his proactive efforts in safeguarding state borders.