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According to
Assamese government records, the three-day clash resulted in 41 deaths, including 28 Assamese police personnel, and 89 policemen and 12 civilians were injured. The casualties on the Naga side are unknown. Extensive destruction occurred in the
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The boundary dispute had economic dimensions, with timber and oil resources in the region adding complexity to the issue. In the conflicts aftermath, the destruction of forests affected plywood factories, and unscrupulous logging exacerbated tensions.
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Bazar, the Assam police station, and numerous civilian settlements. Over 27,000 villagers were rendered destitute. Conservative estimates suggested at least 41 fatalities, with over 28 being police officers, and over a hundred wounded.
204:. Lasting for over three days from the evening of June 4, 1985, to the early hours of June 8, 1985, the conflict arose over a border fence dispute, resulting in significant casualties and widespread destruction in the
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Despite assurances from both state governments that such incidents would not recur, the aftermath of the clash witnessed ongoing tensions and sporadic incidents of arson and assaults on civilians. The
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The clash commenced on the evening of June 4, 1985, coinciding with discussions between commissioners of the two states aimed at defusing tensions.
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area, affecting 96 villages, displacing 32,229 refugees, and damaging numerous structures, including schools, temples, and police stations.
259:(1972–76) concluded that Nagaland's claim to 4,975 square miles of Assam's territory lacked verifiable evidence. The colonial merger of the
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Prior to the clash, there was a culmination of escalating tensions, triggered by the construction of a check post and border fence by the
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once again ignited fears of a repeat incident leading to hundreds fleeing. Other violent incidents took place along the border in
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Other sources indicate that over a hundred
Assamese villagers were massacred after the Naga gained control of the area.
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defined borders according to a 1925 notification, but
Nagaland contested this delineation, demanding the inclusion of
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423:, however, asserted that the Nagaland attack was unprovoked and followed a series of assaults on civilians.
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seeking the identification of boundaries and resolution of border disputes, which remained pending by 1985.
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originated in 1963 when
Nagaland was carved out of Assam. The two states share a 512.1 km-long border.
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positions. The fusillade continued all night, leading to the destruction of
Merapani Bazar and
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police station, violating the 1972 agreement on maintaining status in disputed areas. The
338:. Disputes over territory and frequent assaults on civilians further heightened tensions.
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587:"What you need to know about the five-decade border conflict between Assam and Nagaland"
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insisted the attack was unprovoked. The ensuing violence resulted in the destruction of
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faced challenges in dealing with the situation firmly due to ongoing crises in
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646:"Merapani Village between Assam-Nagaland Border Becomes a Bloody Battlefield"
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stated that the reason for the clash was the aforementioned violation of the
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255:. They also asserted historical claims that extended further north. The
623:"Border tussle between Assam and Nagaland leaves a village in the dark"
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The
Merapani Clash was not an isolated incident. Previous clashes in
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Despite constitutional arbitration and commissions' findings,
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523:"Around the World; 32 Indians Are Killed in a Police Battle"
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was a violent confrontation between police forces from the
605:"Naga settlers cause tension in border villages of Assam"
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Sporadic incidents continued despite the presence of the
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pursued a policy of extending its northern boundary.
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455:eventually took up patrol positions in the region.
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267:in 1873 was cited as evidence by the commission.
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297:had occurred, killing thousands among them. The
235:Nagaland's creation was formalized by an act of
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569:"Violent Borders: Killings in Nagaland-Assam"
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278:in the region also failed to take action.
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411:claimed that tension escalated when the
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182:13-100+ civilians killed (Assam only)
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376:Minister of State for Home Affairs
239:, specifying the boundary between
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751:20th-century mass murder in India
447:The Nagas eventually returned to
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135:
107:
96:
82:
544:"Assam-Nagaland Border Dispute"
388:units perched on hills, using
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756:Internal territorial disputes
731:Territorial disputes of India
726:Insurgency in Northeast India
573:Economic and Political Weekly
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415:constructed a checkpost near
253:Naga-dominated areas in Assam
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31:Insurgency in Northeast India
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326:police station, violating a
222:inter-state boundary dispute
7:
474:. Despite meetings between
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761:Police misconduct in India
427:Casualties and destruction
392:, three inch mortars, and
249:Nagaland State Act of 1962
16:Cross-border armed clashes
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706:June 1985 events in Asia
664:"Clashes and Casualties"
449:their side of the border
301:had filed a case in the
682:"Merapani faces exodus"
413:Assam Forest Department
320:Assam Forest Department
190:1985 Merapani Incident
66:status quo ante bellum
24:1985 Merapani Incident
711:1985 murders in India
374:officials, including
210:Doyang Reserve Forest
166:Casualties and losses
151:Border Security Force
54:Assam-Nagaland border
670:. 17 September 2014.
314:Immediate background
746:Mass murder in 1985
686:The Telegraph India
548:Land Conflict Watch
409:Nagaland Government
390:medium machine guns
384:Survivors reported
370:, prompting senior
356:Assamese government
261:Naga Hills district
257:Sundaram Commission
527:The New York Times
372:Central government
741:Crime in Nagaland
721:1980s in Nagaland
593:. 27 August 2014.
575:. 11 August 2007.
480:central officials
386:Naga Armed Police
241:Tuensang district
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299:Assam government
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529:. 8 June 1985.
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44:June 4–8, 1985
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368:Assam Rifles
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208:area of the
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160:Assam Rifles
127:Assam Police
77:Belligerents
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29:Part of the
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650:India Today
609:India Today
141:Naga Rebels
102:Naga Rebels
700:Categories
509:References
396:to attack
247:, and the
237:Parliament
216:Background
668:Frontline
627:The Hindu
591:Scroll.in
485:In 2004,
443:Aftermath
171:28 killed
491:Golaghat
434:Merapani
421:Assamese
417:Merapani
360:Merapani
348:Nagaland
342:Conflict
336:Nagaland
330:between
324:Merapani
272:Nagaland
230:Nagaland
224:between
206:Merapani
202:Nagaland
93:Nagaland
49:Location
487:clashes
472:Gujarat
174:Unknown
501:, and
468:Punjab
464:Centre
451:, and
309:Events
293:, and
112:
61:Result
332:Assam
322:near
265:Assam
263:with
245:Assam
226:Assam
198:Assam
115:India
88:Assam
503:2014
499:2011
495:1989
478:and
470:and
407:The
334:and
295:1982
291:1979
287:1968
283:1965
243:and
228:and
220:The
200:and
188:The
177:None
41:Date
489:in
196:of
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