Today, various organizations, including ASDC and APHLC James Group, staged a sit-in protest demanding the eviction of illegal settlers residing in the PGR-VGR areas of Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong, as well as the removal of non-indigenous people living in protected areas. Through this demonstration held near the secretariat of the autonomous council in Diphu, they called for the eviction of non-indigenous individuals illegally residing in both districts.
Former chief executive member of the council, Jotson Bey, stated before the media that both districts are included in the Sixth Schedule and are reserved areas for indigenous people. Therefore, to settle in these areas, permission from the council is required. However, without any permission, people from Bihar and Bangladesh have encroached upon our reserved lands.
It is not the Karbi or indigenous communities that are encroaching on the reserved lands; it is external individuals who are doing so. Hence, we have demanded eviction. The council needs to carry out evictions according to its powers. While the government conducts operations against indigenous people, it does not take action against those coming from outside, raising questions about the fairness of this policy, Be pointed out.
In a recent statement, APHLC leader James Hanse announced that all parties have agreed to work together on issues such as eviction from PGR-VGR land and the demand for an autonomous state. He mentioned that they will submit a memorandum to the Chief Executive Member to ensure the implementation of these demands.
