Committee alleges encroachment by Assam

TURA, July 31: The Garoland State Movement Committee (GSMC) has accused Assam of encroaching into areas of West Garo Hills under Raksamgre civil sub-division, causing tension among the locals there.
In a letter to Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, the GSMC said that encroachment is being perpetrated in Rongsai and Kurung villages with Assam authorities claiming portions of the area after conducting their own ‘Global Positioning System’ demarcation, without consulting the Meghalaya government.
Beseeching the chief minister to call a halt to the alleged encroachment, the GSMC said, “The land claimed by Assam belongs to Meghalaya because there has been a Forest Beat Office belonging to our state since the time of Meghalaya’s statehood. Even the original map with the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council shows it.”
The GSMC also accused Assam government of issuing land documents to its people in areas that belong to Garo Hills. Reports of people in the encroached area having obtained dual lands and voter identity cards have also been flagged by the locals of the area. “Assam is putting up infrastructures. Even a primary Assamese school has been opened at this village by the Assam Government though the territory falls inside located in Meghalaya,” claimed the GSMC.