To ensure public safety and maintain order during the planned eviction of illegal settlements around Dimapur Airport, the Dimapur Police Commissionerate has enforced strict prohibitory measures under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023. The order, issued by Commissioner of Police Kevithuto Sophie, IPS, aims to prevent any possible resistance or disruption during the operation. The directive follows instructions from the Commissioner’s Office in Kohima and is backed by a ruling of the Gauhati High Court’s Principal Bench, dated May 27, 2025, in connection with CRP Nos. 104/2024 and 105/2024. Further reinforcement came through a subsequent notification issued by the Deputy Commissioner of Chümoukedima earlier on Thursday.
With rising concerns over potential unrest, the police have defined clear restrictions. The order prohibits the gathering of five or more persons and strictly bans the possession of any potentially harmful items such as lathis, spears, catapults, machetes, and other weapons. Authorities believe there is a credible threat of “resistance or physical obstruction” that could endanger lives, disturb peace, and damage property during the eviction process. The restricted zone has been precisely marked—bounded by the Chathe River and Nihoto in the east, the Dimapur Airport perimeter to the west, Ekranipathar in the north, and Diphupar, near the 173 Battalion CRPF Camp, to the south.
The prohibitory orders are effective from 8:00 PM on June 12 and will remain in force until 6:00 PM on June 13, 2025, unless lifted earlier. The police have called on residents, commuters, and those residing near the eviction site to cooperate fully with the authorities. Police officials reiterated that the measures are preventive in nature and intended to ensure that the eviction process unfolds peacefully without any threats to human life or property. The upcoming drive is a part of the state’s broader effort to reclaim government land and ensure the security of vital public infrastructure.
