Tirap District derives its name from the river Tirap which originates in the district and flows through Changlang District of Arunachal Pradesh. The entire area of Tirap District is covered with high hills and deep gorges. There is hardly a few plots of plain land in the villages lying close to the plains of Assam.
Tirap District lies between the latitude 26º 38º N and 27º 47º N and the longitude 96º 16º E and 95º 40º E. The total area of the district is situated in a peculiar geographical setting bounded towards south of Myanmar. In the north there is the state of Assam and in the west, it is bounded by the state of Nagaland and on the east by Changlang District of Arunachal Pradesh.
The major portion of the people inhabiting the district is the tribal group which constitutes 80% of the total district population. The major tribes inhabiting in the district are the Nocte, Wancho and Tutsa. Most of the people live in the villages. They are ever willing to share their problems and cooperative in nature. Most of them earn their livelihood through farming and allied activities such as govt. employment, govt. contract works, contract work in forest products, trade in local products, agricultural labour etc.
HISTORY
Since time in memorial, Tirap has been inhabited by ancestors of the indigenious tribes. Tribes such as the Nocte came to settle in the area during the 16th century, at the time of reign of the Ahoms. The Japanese troops invaded and controlled the area for a brief period in 1945, until the collapse of the Japanese empire.
Of late, Tirap has also been a major target for the NSCN, a Naga rebel group who aims to convert the local tribals to Christianity and the creation of Greater Nagaland, using military force. It is also said that Baptist missionaries subtly supports these rebel groups.
