HT Bureau
DIPHU, March 7: The Land and Revenue Department of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) has officially postponed the eviction drive scheduled for Saturday at Kheroni Girls High School in West Karbi Anglong. Officials cited failure to meet Supreme Court-mandated protocols and a lack of adequate security personnel as the primary reasons for the delay.
During a press conference held on Saturday at the KAAC New Secretariat, Si-im Taro, Secretary in-charge of Land and Revenue, clarified that the drive is not cancelled but merely deferred until legal and logistical requirements are fully met.
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According to Taro, the encroached area belonging to the school spans 32 bighas and 3 kattas, currently occupied by approximately 20 families totalling over 100 individuals.
Taro emphasised that a modern eviction drive is a multi-departmental effort that must strictly follow Supreme Court guidelines. The Land and Revenue Department cannot act in isolation. Key requirements include the involvement of the Health Department and Anganwadi workers to identify and care for pregnant women and lactating mothers; the Forest Department must oversee the removal of illegally planted trees and the Animal Husbandry and Agriculture Departments must take custody of cattle, poultry and standing crops like paddy or wheat found on the site.
“Only the Land and Revenue Department alone cannot carry out an eviction drive. There must be cooperation from other line departments,” Taro stated, highlighting the necessity of a coordinated humanitarian and administrative approach.
A significant hurdle for Saturday’s operation was the unavailability of security forces. With Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma scheduled to visit Diphu on March 11, the bulk of the Assam Police and paramilitary forces have been diverted for VVIP security arrangements.
Tensing Rongpi, Additional Secretary and Eviction In-charge, echoed these sentiments, confirming that the drive will resume “immediately” once the line department manpower is secured and the Chief Minister’s visit concludes.
While the eviction remains on hold, the KAAC is preparing for a wave of new infrastructure. Assistant Technical Secretary Budho Teron informed the press that during the Chief Minister’s visit, schemes worth Rs 700.3 crore will be inaugurated and the foundation for new infrastructure projects with an estimated value of Rs 900.96 crore will be laid.
The KAAC remains committed to reclaiming the school land, asserting that the removal of encroachers is essential for the institution’s future growth, provided the process remains within the bounds of the law.
