Nagaland: CRPF action sparks protest in Ralan

A joint protest was staged at Old Ralan under Wokha district on Saturday by the Ralan Area Lotha Hoho (RALH), Ralan Area Eloe Hoho (RAEH), Ralan Area GB Association (RAGBA) and the Ralan Area Students’ Union (RASU), expressing strong opposition to what they described as continued obstruction to the operation of a petrol pump in the area allegedly by Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel.
Around 500 members of the public of Ralan area gathered at the site to voice their resentment over the issue, reiterating that the obstruction was causing inconvenience to the community and urging the authorities to intervene promptly.
Speaking to the media, leaders and elders of Ralan area said the dispute surrounding the government-sponsored petrol pump was not new, but had persisted since 2021.
They explained that the facility, established under MARCOFED, is located within the jurisdiction of Old Ralan village and does not fall under the Disturbed Area Belt (DAB).
The leaders underscored that the petrol pump was an essential public utility intended to serve commuters from across Nagaland as well as neighbouring regions. Youth leaders alleged that personnel of the CRPF had halted the functioning of the petrol pump and “verbally threatened” to dismantle the facility using heavy machinery.
Protesters questioned the role of the CRPF, accusing it of failing to maintain neutrality and acting on unclear directives. They further claimed that no Assam Police personnel were present at the site during the incident, raising concerns about the basis of the the intervention.
Senior citizens of Old Ralan, including a 91-year-old village elder, recalled past instances of alleged harassment by central forces and reiterated that the land belongs to the people of the Ralan area. They maintained that the petrol pump was constructed for public welfare and warned that responsibility for any unrest would lie with those attempting to shut it down.
RALH chairman Samuel Ovung said multiple representations had been submitted to both the Nagaland and Assam governments since 2021. He informed that another formal representation would be submitted following the latest incident, urging both state governments to intervene and resolve the matter amicably. He also highlighted what he termed a disparity in development, stating that while infrastructure projects continue unhindered on the Assam side, similar initiatives in Ralan face repeated obstruction.
Elders also called for dialogue at the government level between Assam and Nagaland, asserting that central forces should not dictate decisions related to land and development. They referenced historical land records and tax receipts to reinforce Ralan’s territorial claims.
RAEH leader Cherry Humtsoe expressed solidarity with the protest, stating that women of the area would continue to oppose any attempt to shut down the petrol pump and condemning what she described as repeated harassment by security forces.
The protesters unanimously resolved that the petrol pump would be allowed to operate, terming it a matter of livelihood, development and public interest. They warned that continued obstruction could lead to intensified agitation in the coming days.