Cachar Forest Division serves notices to residents; “While Mizos occupy acres of Assam land, they are asking us to vacate our houses,” locals

The Cachar Forest Division is handing out eviction notices to residents of the Lailapur area of the Cachar district. The statement states that the residents residing in the Forest Area must provide legitimate papers or otherwise leave the site with bags and baggage. The notice issued by the Department of Forest informs about the seven-day deadline to submit the papers and at the same time, warns about strict action if not vacated.

This has irked the locals of the Lailapur area. For the freshers, this is the area adjacent to the same place where six Assam Police Personnel were killed and a total of 43 were admitted to the hospital with bullet injuries on July 26, 2021, after Mizo forces opened fire from the hilltop to take over the land. That place is now under the custody of Mizoram. The post is being guarded by the Mizo Forces and the Reserve Forest Area has been converted into a village of many many homes built by the Mizos. This is the same area that according to the forest topography map is more than three kilometers inside Assam.

One resident, while holding the notice in his hand said, “We fought the Mizos and retained the land for Assam. We lost our domesticated animals, our friends got shot, and one was even abducted and killed. The Chief Secretary came to our house, the DGP came to our house and now we are being asked to vacate while the Mizos continue to occupy our land. This is injustice.”

They said that they have been living in that area for more than 70 years and many of them got their houses sanctioned under the Indira Awas Yojona. “We have electric connections in our respective households, we pay bills and have receipts for those. We cast our votes and contribute to government activities. Why are we being served notices to vacate the area whereas acres and acres are occupied by the Mizos,” said a female resident of the area while holding the notice.

Another man added, “It is because of our relentless fight, the area is under Assam’s control. Is this a plan to conspire against Assam and hand over the land to the Mizos?”

Overall, the border area is getting tense due to these notices.