By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Indigenous Rights Forum (IRF) has demanded the state government to settle the boundary issues between Assam and West Garo Hills and also take initiative for the recovery of the land illegally occupied by the Assam at Hallidayganj, Garo Hills.
The IRF, a union from Phulbari, West Garo Hills recently submitted a memorandum to the Chief Secretary of Meghalaya, WMS Pariat where they pointed out that the encroachment by the Assam people to this part of the state is a long pending and unsettled.
“This encroachment by the Assam people has left many poor tribals and non-tribals of the state landless while some others, who are wealthy, are fighting in the court for their rights to recover their own lands”, IRF President Rupa R Marak said in a statement issued here recently.
The forum also stated that the swarming of illegal immigrants of Assam has reached an alarming rate. “Their (Assam people) encroachment into our land is alarming and we fear that there will be a riot in the near future probably fighting for survival as presently our people are already facing a lot of problem due to this encroachment”, Marak said.
The inflow of illegal immigrants into the state has resulted to crisis of residential land, a hike in the price of land, increase in the population and increase in crimes, asserted the union. “Some of the lands are forcefully snatched away from us by these people”, rued the IRF president.
The forum has also mentioned that besides the influx, the Assam people has been illegally involved in quarrying of stones at Panbari area, Garo Hills leading to the large destruction of forest and polluted the environment to a great extend. The forum has therefore asked the state government to tackle this serious problem for the benefit of the people of the Garo Hills and the state as a whole.