HT Bureau
DIPHU, Dec 23: Assam Education Minister Ranoj Pegu on Tuesday visited Kheroni in West Karbi Anglong, where shops and establishments belonging to members of the non-Karbi community were vandalised and set ablaze during recent unrest.
The minister met the affected families and traders at Kheroni to assess the ground situation.
During the interaction, the victims demanded adequate compensation for their losses and sought assurances on their safety.
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They also urged the government to ensure the arrest of those responsible for the violence.
Responding to the concerns, Pegu assured that compensation would be provided to the affected families.
He also announced that the state government would initiate tripartite talks involving stakeholders demanding eviction from Village Grazing Reserve (VGR) and Professional Grazing Reserve (PGR) land.
Addressing the gathering, the minister said the government was conscious of issues related to the protection of indigenous land rights and has been taking continuous steps in this regard.
He pointed out that land matters in Karbi Anglong fall under the jurisdiction of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council as per constitutional provisions, and that the state government has no direct role in such matters.
“It is not merely an issue of PGR and VGR. There is a larger question of the relevance and future of the Karbi people in the present context,” Pegu said, adding that the Assam government would convene a tripartite meeting with leaders of the agitation within a month.
The minister further informed that he had appealed to the agitators to suspend their ongoing hunger strike, following which the protesters agreed to do so.
He said the government is committed to resolving the issue through dialogue and ensuring peace and harmony in the area.
