GUWAHATI, May 28 – Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly Debabrata Saikia today urged Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who also holds the Home portfolio, to initiate urgent steps to check the acts of encroachment on Assam land in Bihubor area of Nazira subdivision by some miscreants from Nagaland.In a letter to the Chief Minister, Saikia alleged that these miscreants are lured with money by some Assam-based businessmen, who are engaged in illegal stone and coal mining and are patronised by some political forces.

Saikia said that he has been informed of these developments by 59 local residents of Bihubor area in writing. These residents have also intimated the SDO and the SDPO of Nazira, besides the Officer in-charge of Bihubor Police Station, of these developments. The residents have complained that the intimidatory tactics by the miscreants from Nagaland have become frequent nowadays.

On May 24 the miscreants from across the inter-state border cut down numerous tea bushes in the Ouguri Tea Estate at Bihubor and overnight erected huts in the area thus cleared. However, the Bihubor police, along with the local people, managed to reclaim the area the next day.

Despite that, the miscreants are continuing with their act of removing the tea bushes. In fact, the miscreants have succeeded in occupying an old cemetery situated inside Assam territory and are reported to be using excavators to make the place suitable for habitation and cultivation.

Apart from loss of revenue, the illegal activities carried out by these elements are causing irreparable damage to the environment. These illegal activities are mainly centred near the Dikhow river in Ougurijan and now have spread to the Ouguri Tea Estate, which the miscreants are out to capture for its natural resources. It is believed that the local businessmen are sponsoring the encroachers to make the area a disputed one in the hope of bringing the area under their control in the days to come, Saikia said.

He also said that as far back as January 8, 2018, he had written (Letter No ALA/LOP/(NZ)/30/2018/2505) to the Forest Minister of the State with a plea to initiate deterrent actions to prevent illegal mining activities in the area.

News Source Assam Tribune