Clash As Assam's Council Decides To Evict 10,000; Congress Raises The Issue In Assembly

Though the Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma last year assured the residents of the tribal areas that they would not be evicted, Assam’s Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) has now reportedly decided to evict 10,000 residents, claiming they are settlers. The KAAC which rules Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong districts said that the people from some Professional Grazing Reserves (PGR) and Village Grazing Reserves (VGR) – around 2,086 families – are illegal settlers.

The state Revenue Minister Jogen Mohan while defending the KAAC decision said that the move is for clearing the alleged illegal settlers. However, the Congress party today during the budget session raised the issue in the Assam assembly. Congress leader Debabrata Saikia said that despite having documents to prove their residency since 1940, the people in the area have been facing uncertainty and troubles. He also noted that the residents’ names are also in the National Register of Citizens (NRC). The NRC in Assam was implemented in 1951, creating a list of Indian citizens living in Assam.

The decision was made after a Hindu-speaking community submitted a memorandum to the officials last month seeking to take legal action against the people settled on PGR and VGR lands in West Karbi Anglong district.

The members from the Karbi Students” Association and Autonomous State Demand Committee Youth Front organised a protest on February 15 seeking the eviction of the people from the VGR and PGR lands. The protest had led to the injuries of 11 people and the arrest of several others.

The chief executive member of KAAC Tuliram Ronghang said that the the council made the decision in line with a Supreme Court order and the Karbi Anglong (Land & Revenue) Act of 1953. The chief minister Himanta Biswa had last year said that the residents of the areas would not be evicted. There were reports earlier regarding a drive to evict alleged settlers in the area.