Illegal settlers leave tribal areas, return to native places

Guwahati: Hundreds of villagers, who had been illegally occupying the tribal areas at Sonapur, on the outskirts of Guwahati, on Sunday returned to their native places in Barpeta, Darrang and Morigaon with their baggage and other belongings.

Sonapur revenue circle officer Nitul Khataniar said, “The illegal settlers were served eviction notice, while several houses have already been razed by the district administration. Many of them have vacated the lands and have moved to their native places in Morigaon, Barpeta and Darrang, respectively. However, the total number of families, who have left, are yet to be assessed.”

The circle officer further said, “Some people had bought lands in the tribal belt which was formed in 1948. However, they do not have any valid documents and are therefore not eligible for settlement in the region. Majority of the people left on Monday, consisting of non-eligible settlers.”

Previously, the settlers had migrated to Kachutali village, under the Sonapur revenue circle, from various riverine areas across the state and had settled in tribal belt villages. Some of the family members said that were returning to there native places as the Kamrup (Metro) district administration had been carrying out eviction drives in the tribal belt.

Khataniar said that a fresh notification had been issued, directing the occupants to contact the original owner of the land and evade eviction.

Meanwhile, the natives of Sonapur were happy that the illegal settlers were leaving and thanked the state government. The eviction drive, however, has not been without its fair share of political blame game.

The drive also witnessed an attack by the illegal settlers on govt officials on Thursday, compelling the police to open fire. It led to the death of two Bangladesh-origin immigrant villagers, while several govt officials, including the circle officer, DCP (Guwahati East) and Sonapur police station OC, sustained injuries.

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