Jowai: The Jaintia Students’ Union (JSU) has demanded immediate eviction of alleged illegal settlers from Lakroh village and strict action against those involved in the recent assault on four residents at Hawai Sutnga in West Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya.
In a joint statement issued by its central body and the JSU Syndai unit, the student organisation said the alleged attack on four residents by unidentified criminals from Lakroh village has raised serious concerns over law and order and the safety of indigenous communities in the area.
“This was not just a random act of violence; it is a direct attack on our right to exist safely in our own homeland, ” the Jaintia Students’ Union stated.
It said, “The indigenous tribal people of Meghalaya are welcoming and peace-loving, but do not mistake our kindness for weakness. Our tolerance has been weaponized against us for too long. If you dare to disrupt our peace, claim our land unlawfully, or spill the blood of our brothers, you will face the full weight of the law and the unstoppable democratic force of the JSU.”
According to the union, a joint fact-finding delegation led by its Education Secretary Khynroo Bocheru Mi Pohsnem visited the area on March 9 to assess the situation.
The delegation also interacted with officials, including Sub-Inspector Rymbai of the Muktapur outpost, Lakroh village headman S. Syngkor and the Dalloi of Elaka Satpator, Daman Lakachiang.
The organisation claimed that police have identified four to five suspects in connection with the assault and demanded their immediate arrest and strict legal action against all those involved.
The JSU also alleged that Lakroh village has witnessed a large influx of non-tribal settlers and claimed that only a small percentage of the population now comprises indigenous tribals.
“Today, a mere 5% of Lakroh Village is made up of indigenous tribals. A staggering 95% are nontribals who have set up massive, permanent settlements,” the students’ body claimed.
“Careless previous headmen handed out temporary stay certificates, which these outsiders have shamelessly exploited to build permanent RCC buildings on Elaka Satpator land without owning a single inch of it legally,” it said.
It urged the district administration to cancel what it described as manipulated no-objection certificates (NOCs) issued earlier and initiate eviction drives against alleged illegal structures built on customary land.
The union further called on the District Administration and the Election Commission to carry out a verification exercise of electoral rolls in the area and remove the names of alleged illegal settlers.
“By handing out EPIC cards (Voter IDs) and Aadhaar cards to illegal settlers, certain politicians are trading the safety of our state for cheap votes,” JSU said.
The JSU also raised objections to the construction of a temple in Lakroh village, claiming that the project had continued despite earlier orders from the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) of Amlarem to halt the work.
The organisation demanded that the administration seal the structure and take action against those responsible for defying official directives.
In addition, the union sought a probe into the alleged issuance of benefits under government schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and MGNREGA to persons it described as illegal settlers.
The organisation also renewed its demand for strict enforcement of the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA) and the implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in the state to regulate the entry of outsiders.
The union added, “We demand the aggressive enforcement of the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act (MRSSA) right now to flush out suspected foreigners. Implementing the ILP is no longer just a demand; it is an absolute necessity for our survival.”
Further, the JSU urged the state and central governments to expedite the completion of international border fencing in the region, claiming that the unfinished fencing poses security risks.
The union said it has collected geo-tagged photographs and documents related to the alleged illegal constructions.
It stated, “Our delegation has legally secured geo-tagged photographs of the illegally constructed PMAY houses and the unauthorized Mandir in Lakroh. This evidence, along with our RTI documents, is being submitted to the highest authorities.”
The union warned that failure by the state government to take action could lead to statewide democratic protests.
