Assam: Barpathar residents seek restoration of previous Nagaon–Karbi Anglong boundary

Amid the continuing boundary dispute between Nagaon and Karbi Anglong districts, members of the Barpathar Border Protection Committee on Monday, July 6, demanded that the Assam government restore the previous district boundary, asserting that the villages under the Barpathar Gaon Panchayat have historically remained part of Nagaon.
 

Addressing a press conference at the Barpathar Gaon Panchayat office, representatives of the committee said residents of the area wished to continue under Nagaon district. They claimed that all nine revenue villages under the panchayat have long been administered by Nagaon and pointed to the presence of government schools, Anganwadi centres and religious institutions functioning under the district as evidence of their longstanding administrative affiliation.
 

The press conference comes days after Samaguri MLA Jitu Goswami, accompanied by officials from the Forest Department and the police, visited the disputed areas on July 3. During the visit, he directed the Kampur Revenue Circle Officer to take steps within seven days to restore the earlier Nagaon–Karbi Anglong boundary, according to the committee.
 

The development also follows a candlelight protest organised by the Karbi Students' Association (KSA), which opposed the MLA's intervention and raised slogans against him. Responding to the protest, participants at Monday's press conference criticised the KSA's stand, describing its agitation as unjustified. Those present also raised slogans in support of Jitu Goswami.
 

The committee appealed to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to intervene and take measures to restore the previous boundary while ensuring a permanent and peaceful resolution to the long-standing dispute between the two districts.
 

Among those present at the press conference were Barpathar Gaon Panchayat president Sumitra Medhi Hazarika, vice-president Pinky Sarkar, social workers Nripen Nath and Indramohan Das, council member Lilawati Prasad, and retired teacher Bhogadhan Bora.
 

The Nagaon–Karbi Anglong boundary has remained a contentious issue for years, with residents and organisations from both sides staking competing claims over the disputed areas.