Nagaland: Assam minister assures support for Sümi Nagas in Upper Assam

Principal secretary, Forest, Environment & Climate Change, Fisheries & Aquatica Resources and parliamentary affairs, Y. Kikheto Sema, paid a courtesy call on Assam minister for Agriculture, Border Affairs, Fisheries, Excise and the Assam Accord, Atul Bora, at his official residence in Guwahati on December 31.
During the meeting, Bora reaffirmed his commitment to safeguard the interests of the Sümi (Sema) Naga community residing in Upper Assam, particularly the six villages under Tinsukia district. He acknowledged the historical presence of Sümi Nagas in the region, noting that their settlement predates India’s Independence, with records indicating the establishment of a Sümi Naga village as early as 1904.
The minister emphasised that such historical continuity must be respected while addressing present-day administrative and developmental concerns. Discussions also centred on strengthening the long-standing relationship between Assam and Nagaland, especially in sensitive border areas. Both sides underscored the importance of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and sustained dialogue to protect the rights and interests of Naga and Assamese communities.
The shared sentiment that “Nagas and Ahoms are inseparable” was reaffirmed as a guiding principle for fostering harmony and stability in the region. The interaction, held on the final day of the year, concluded on a note of optimism, with hopes for peace, development and prosperity along the Assam–Nagaland border.