Karbi Anglong Council to Evict Encroachers from Grazing Lands
Eviction Plans Announced by Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council
Guwahati, Dec 30: The Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) is set to initiate eviction proceedings against all encroachers on Professional Grazing Reserve (PGR) and Village Grazing Reserve (VGR) lands within the next two weeks, as stated by Chief Executive Member (CEM) Tuliram Ronghang on Monday.
Ronghang mentioned that eviction notices will start being issued to encroachers from Tuesday, with only 339 families currently receiving temporary relief due to a stay order from the Gauhati High Court.
“No commercial activities will be permitted on PGR or VGR lands. Licenses for businesses operating on these lands will be revoked,” Ronghang emphasized after a lengthy meeting with protest groups advocating for the removal of non-tribals from these areas designated under the 6th Schedule.
“We engaged in comprehensive discussions with the organizations about their issues. It was agreed that the KAAC will file an affidavit with the Gauhati High Court on January 5 regarding the eviction of PGR and VGR lands, with the organizations also submitting their affidavits on the same day,” he added.
Ronghang clarified that the 339 families who approached the High Court will not receive eviction notices for the time being, as the case is still under judicial review. However, all other illegal occupants of PGR and VGR lands will be notified to vacate within 15 days. Failure to comply will result in eviction actions being taken.
He also announced that eviction operations in Bokoliya will commence after the Magh Bihu festival in January, stating, “Post-Bihu, the eviction in Bokoliya will be executed in phases. The Council is determined to reclaim the grazing reserve lands.”
A tripartite meeting involving the state government, KAAC, and protest leaders took place on December 26. During this meeting, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma assured the protesters that the government would seek an expedited order from the Gauhati High Court regarding the stay on eviction operations in the grazing lands across both districts.
This series of meetings followed violent incidents in the Kheroni area of West Karbi Anglong, which resulted in two fatalities and at least 173 injuries last week.
The unrest reportedly stemmed from police actions against a hunger strike that demanded the eviction of non-tribals from PGR and VGR lands in Kheroni, leading to protesters setting fire to the residence of KAAC chief Tuliram Ronghang in Dongkamokam.
Police were compelled to use force to disperse the crowd, resulting in several injuries. One injured individual later died, and another non-tribal was also reported deceased amid the violence.
An eviction drive had been initiated last year but was halted following a petition to the Gauhati High Court, which issued an interim order suspending the process.