Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Yanthungo Patton publicly threatened a journalist during a public meeting in Wokha district on August 23.

Patton, who also holds the home and border affairs portfolios, was caught on camera singling out Hornbill TV reporter Deep Saikia and saying he had asked “some people” to “chase him” away.

The incident occurred during a public meeting at Liphanyan village, held in the backdrop of Assam’s eviction drives in the Rengma Reserve Forest along the disputed Assam-Nagaland border.

In a video aired by Hornbill TV the following day, Patton could be seen rising from his seat on spotting Saikia, rebuking him, and declaring, “I will not tolerate such things,” while accusing the journalist of misreporting.

Patton had been invited as chief guest to the meeting, which was called after tensions flared in the border villages when Assam’s forest minister Chandra Mohan Patowary planned a plantation drive on land recently cleared during eviction.

Naga villagers opposed the move, pointing out that the Assam-Nagaland boundary dispute is still pending before the Supreme Court. The plantation was eventually stalled after protests.

Local residents told Hornbill TV that despite Assam Police’s eviction activities and fencing in the disputed areas, neither the Wokha deputy commissioner nor Patton had visited them for weeks. They accused the leadership of neglecting their safety and interests.

On August 18, a joint eviction drive by Assam and Nagaland authorities demolished 41 houses in Haldibari, but resistance from villagers forced police to halt operations in nearby Krishnapur. On August 23, the Supreme Court stayed Gauhati High Court orders that had formed the basis for the eviction, further complicating the matter.

Amid this backdrop, Patton and local NPF legislator Achumbemo Kikon toured the border areas and addressed public meetings. At Liphanyan, Patton turned his ire on Saikia for reporting villagers’ criticism and for interviewing former Bhandari MLA M. Kikon, who had recently resigned as BJP’s national spokesperson after losing the assembly election.

“Who are you to say that I never visited the area? I will not tolerate such things… This was the reason I asked some people to chase him away but they didn’t,” Patton said during his speech.

The remarks triggered condemnation from across Nagaland’s press fraternity. The Kohima Press Club said, “The Kohima Press Club condemns the display of such dictatorial behaviour, targeting reporters for carrying out their duty. As journalists, it is our fundamental duty to question in our quest for truth and providing fair and comprehensive accounts of events.”

The Mokokchung Press Club also denounced Patton’s conduct.

“Journalists have both the right and the responsibility to ask questions, seek clarity, and report events without fear and reprisal. Any attempt to silence or restrict the press undermines not only the profession but also the public’s fundamental right to information…. The press fraternity will continue to stand united against any attempt to undermine or intimidate its members,” it said.

Under mounting criticism, Patton later issued a statement dismissing media reports that he had neglected border residents as “baseless and unfounded” and claiming he had been “constantly monitoring the situation.” 
However, his clarification made no mention of his threat to the Hornbill TV reporter.