Assam: Jagun groups oppose Laika rehabilitation in reserved forest, warn of protests

Several public bodies and ethnic organisations in Upper Assam’s Jagun have strongly opposed the proposed rehabilitation of Laika residents in the Tirap Reserved Forest area, warning of intensified democratic protests if the plan goes ahead.

At a press meet held at Phaneng No. 1 in Jagun, representatives of multiple organisations and local residents from across the Tirap–Jagun region voiced concern over the government’s reported move to resettle Laika dwellers in the forest zone. 

The gathering reflected growing discontent in the region, where communities say they have already borne the burden of past rehabilitation efforts involving displaced populations.

Speakers at the meeting alleged that the move would lead to the destruction of a century-old reserved forest and urged the government and administrative authorities to abandon any plan that compromises ecologically sensitive areas. They cautioned that any attempt to rehabilitate people at the cost of protected forests would be met with strong resistance.

At the same time, the organisations clarified that they are not opposed to the rehabilitation of Laika residents per se, but to the choice of location. They suggested that the government should instead utilise land already recovered from encroachers in different parts of Assam for resettlement of flood-affected and displaced families.

Questioning the rationale behind the current proposal, the groups pointed out that the state has recently reclaimed large tracts of illegally occupied government land. “When such land is available, why should reserved forests be destroyed for rehabilitation?” several speakers asked.

The organisations warned that if their concerns are ignored, they would launch a mass democratic movement against the government’s decision.