GUWAHATI: The Garo National Council (Kamrup district unit) has alleged that despite the recent eviction at Bokochara, “some people from West Khasi Hills” are still taking refuge in the village close to the Assam-Meghalaya border.
A joint team of Assam police and district administration had embarked on an eviction drive on May 31, dismantling about six huts allegedly constructed by “settlers from Meghalaya”.
“We have information that there are some people from Meghalaya who have not gone back despite the eviction drive. They are apparently taking refuge in houses of local people at Bokochara and trying to start farming activities such as betel nut plantation, etc at Dolakhowa, about 3km away,” GNC, Kamrup district president, Anindra Marak told The Shillong Times on Sunday.
The council had earlier alleged about “50 families from Nongstoin in West Khasi Hills “illegally built houses and settled” in the hamlet over the past two years.
“Some families have left after the eviction. But some others are putting up at homes of local villagers. We suspect one such local villager, Beldang Sangma who is married to a lady from Nongstoin, to have given indulgence to settlers from Meghalaya,” Marak alleged.
There are about 25 families from the Garo community currently residing at Bokochara, which is about 40km from the inter-state boundary and about 25km from Langpih, where there is a land dispute between the two states,
“We want that this local villager should be arrested. We have not filed an FIR against him but we are now contemplating as his arrest would reveal things not known to the administration. We will soon pay a visit to the village and thereafter inform the administration if we are able to collect more proof,” he said.
A team from Boko police station led by officer in-charge, Jogendra Barman, had conducted a preliminary inspection at the village on May 25, after allegations from residents that people from West Khasi Hills have built temporary structures in the area.
During the eviction on May 31, police and district officials had found a forest area called ‘Welcome Hill’ being cleared by suspected settlers from Meghalaya. Part of Bokochara belongs to the forest department.