Tension simmers along Assam-Mizoram border following forest department’s eviction notice

Tension continued to simmer along the Assam-Mizoram border as the residents of a remote village in Hailakandi district are facing the heat with the Mizo’s aggression on one hand and the forest department’s eviction notice on the other.

In fact, on the orders of the state government, the construction work of a commando battalion camp has already begun along the Assam-Mizoram border in the Hailakandi district, putting the residents into oblivion.

“The government had sanctioned for the construction of a commando battalion camp here in Katlicherra, Kochurthal village. But after a change in the plan due to threats from Mizoram, the government now decided to set up the battalion camp here in Damseda village. The administration is surveying the area. We don’t have any problem with setting up the camp in the selected venue but what has irked us is that there are many poor people living here for more than 70-80 years. If the camp needs to be set up then the government first has to provide compensation to the people. Even we also welcome the government’s initiative of setting up of the battalion camp as the village falls near the Assam-Mizoram border and is a forested area,” said a distressed resident speaking to reporters on the entire matter. 

“As we know the government has time to work for the people. The Chief Minister of Assam has always spoken and worked for the benefit of the poor people. We would request if the administration can set up the camp a bit 1-2 km away from the village,” added the local.

Meanwhile, Assam Police, the Hailakandi district administration, and the forest department have jointly started the work of acquiring land for the camp as the administration is planning to build a camp's training camp at Damseda village in the Assam-Mizoram border in Hailakandi district. 

Following this, many of the families of this border village are in distress as they will be evicted from their lands.

Reacting to the eviction notice by the forest department, MLA Sujam Uddin Laskar while speaking to the reporters said, “Upon receiving the news, we directly spoke to the Superintendent of Police on phone, Hailakandi DFO. On the directions of the Assam Chief Minister, the commando battalion camp will be set up. The land is being selected and surveyed. But the residents of the selected area will face trouble. So we will go and speak to the residents while also supporting the government’s initiative of setting up the camp. There are people who have been staying in our constituency for more than 50-60 years. There are many landless people. They need to be compensated, and provided land according to the laws of the circle''. 

''The forest department has now ordered the removal of these people who for long have been protecting the land of Assam from Mizoram's aggression for a long time. The forest department's order has now created a sensation in the area,'' Laskar added.

The local party organizations have demanded proper compensation and rehabilitation for these people.