From Our Correspondent
WILLIAMNAGAR, June 30: Members of the Napak Mahari have submitted a complaint to the Deputy Commissioner of East Garo Hills, condemning the eviction notice served to the Nokma of the A’king in Williamnagar.
The eviction notice was served to Nokma Rubalin N Marak by the Deputy Commissioner (Revenue). Marak is the Nokma of Simsanggre Napak A’king.
“This act constitutes a grave violation of her customary rights as a Nokma and disregards the formal agreement entered into between the Nokmas of Simsanggre and the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) concerning the acquisition of A’king lands for the establishment of the East Garo Hills District Headquarters,” stated the complaint.
The clan members further drew attention to the agreement of January 8, 1972, which outlined specific terms of lease, none of which, they claimed, have been fulfilled to date.
“This failure represents not only a breach but also an act of exploitation and humiliation against the Scheduled Tribe community and the traditional authority of the A’king Nokma, who parted with their ancestral lands in good faith under conditions which the state has failed to adhere to,” they asserted.
“As per the agreement, the GHADC was to collect A’wil fees alongside land revenue, with the A’wil to be disbursed to the Nokmas. This condition has been blatantly disregarded. Instead, the State, without the knowledge of the GHADC, adopted coercive measures to encroach upon Simsanggre Napak A’king, which notably does not fall within the boundaries specified in ANNEXURE-1 of the Gazette Notification No. RDA 45/78/179 dated 28th July 1983 (published on 4th August 1983), nor in ANNEXURE-A of the Declaration under Section 6 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (Notification No. RDA 45/78/194 dated 10th January 1984),” stated the clan members.
Questioning how the Nokma could be served an eviction notice beyond the specified boundary, the Mahari asserted that the area targeted by the eviction lies outside the demarcated boundaries as per the official map of Williamnagar held by the Revenue department.
“This map clearly delineates the eastern boundary in accordance with ANNEXURE-A, which the evictor violated. She also furnished wrong information in response to an RTI, denying the facts in the Gazette’s last paragraph which mentions the ‘terms of the lease’ of the ANNEXURE-A area,” the Mahari said.
The complainants have now demanded that the eviction notice be withdrawn and the 1972 agreement acknowledged and upheld.
While also asking for a formal apology from the department concerned, the Mahari has called for the territorial integrity of Simsanggre Napak A’king to be respected.
“We trust your office will act with fairness and in accordance with the constitutional safeguards afforded to tribal communities under the Sixth Schedule. We await your response in the hope that we will not be compelled to take legal action over the violation of the agreement and ANNEXURE-A of the Gazette,” stated the complaint.