HT Bureau
DIPHU, Aug 7: In the aftermath of yesterday’s violent incident, where large numbers of protesters were assaulted by police and paramilitary personnel in a rally ‘March to Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC)’, CEM Tuliram Ronghang on Wednesday made it clear that the order declaring present PGR/VGR land in Kheroni, West Karbi Anglong should have a control of KAAC will help in taking up eviction process in future.
A large number of protestors hit the streets of Diphu yesterday to protest against the delay of the eviction process by KAAC.
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In a press conference held at CEM bungalow here on Wednesday, the CEM said, “There is every right in a democratic country for anyone to protest in a peaceful manner and to submit a memorandum. But yesterday’s incident was unfortunate and I condemn the police highhandedness for assaulting the protesters.”
Ronghang said, “The matter of PGR/VGR came up when a section of Hindi-speaking community submitted a petition to President Draupadi Murmu during her last visit to Shillong in January last.”
The memorandum mentioned that land pattas should be issued to the dwellers of the PGR/VGR area.
“As land pattas cannot be issued in reserve forest area, institution land and PGR/VGR area, I asked the Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC) Youth Front to oppose such a demand. The ASDC Youth Front, KSA and Karbi Nimso Chingthur Asong (KNCA) have protested by organizing demonstrations,” he said.
“Surely, there was a gazette notification by the government. But unfortunately that gazette notification record is not with the ARO office either in Donkamukam, Diphu, Phuloni or Silonijan. All attempts have been made to find that gazette notification even in Shillong (when it was undivided Assam) and Director, Land Revenue department, Govt. of Assam. Attempt is still on to get that gazette notification either from any sources,” the CEM said.
Moreover, 73 families have filed a case in the Gauhati High Court saying that eviction cannot be done as people residing in PGR/VGR land are indigenous.
The Gauhati High Court has asked to furnish the gazette notification.
The next hearing is on 26 August. Until the KAAC possesses the gazette notification declaring it as PGR/VGR land, it will be an issue to go further with the eviction process, the CEM said.
The CEM also made it clear that the KAAC has no power on settlement of land.
The CEM also conveyed his best wishes to the joint delegation led Karbi Anglong & NC Hills Autonomous State Demand Committee (KAANCHASDCOM), Karbi Students Association, Karbi Riso Adorbar, Karbi So-arlo Amei and Dimasa Students Union leaving for New Delhi to held a dharna at Jantar Mantar to pressed their demand for implementation of Article 244(A) of Indian constitution for creation of Autonomous State in the hill districts of Assam.
