The Assam government on Sunday evicted about 350 Mian Muslim families living in South Reserve Forest in Golaghat district. Most families are Muslims of Bengali origin, who are called Mian Muslims in Assam. According to the administration, about 1,000 bigha forest land has been freed.

According to the website named Scroll.in, many news videos have been revealed along with the eviction campaign, in which Assamese nationalist groups Mian are seen threatening Muslims to leave the upper Assam. In a video, Situ Barua, a member of ‘Ethnic Sangram Sen’, told a Mian man, “Shut up, Mian … Mian people will have to leave the upper Assam in 24 hours.”

Administration said – Action taken in a peaceful manner
The Golaghat administration said that encroachment was removed in Ghazaljan and number 3 in Rajpukhuri areas. Officials claimed that the campaign took place in peace and there was no opposition. The administration said that most of the families had been living in this region since the 1980s, some have claimed to have settled since 1978.

Constant eviction campaign
It was the seventh eviction campaign in Assam since 16 June. So far, about 5,300 families, especially Muslims of Bengali origin, have been evicted from their homes. Many of these families are now forced to stay on the roadside in tarpaulin huts.

More than 1,500 families evicted in Rengma Reserve Forest
On Saturday, the administration also evicted a large scale from the Rengma Reserve Forest. More than 1,500 families were removed and more than 4,000 illegal structures were broken in five days. This area falls in the disputed area belt bordering Nagaland.

Fixed further eviction
Special Chief Secretary MK Yadav informed that 205 families have been given notice in Negheribil area of Merapani and they will be removed from August 8. This area falls in the Doyang Reserve Forest.

Muslims accused of religious discrimination
The evicted people have accused the government of religious and ethnic discrimination. He says that non -Muslims living in Rengma Reserve Forest and Guwahati were not removed, while notices were given to Muslims living next to them.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s statement
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma dismissed the allegations and said that the state government will not remove ‘indigenous people’. He said that action is being taken against such people who have come from Bangladesh and occupied the land.

Sarma said, “There are two types of encroachments, if a indigenous person is living on public land, we do not consider it to be encroachment. But those who have come from Bangladesh, their case will be considered as encroachment.”

In Assam, Muslims of Mian or Bengali origin are often targeted as foreign or Bangladeshi intruders, while they have evidence of citizenship and have been living in the state for generations.

The Himachal government is going to approach the Supreme Court to stop the cutting of apple trees to remove illegal occupations in forest land. This decision has been taken in the meeting of the High Power Committee chaired by Horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi.

The FCA Act 1980 is also going to file a petition by citing the Godavarman case to demand relief, so that the people of Himachal can get some relief in the forest land rights on its lines.

Government worried about cutting of apple trees

Horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi said that the government is worried about the cutting of apple trees during the rainy season. Cutting can cause damage. After cutting the apple tree, where to dispose of it is also a problem. The government is not against the removal of illegal occupations, but trees are not good during heavy rains. This is also harming the environment. Therefore, the government is going to the Supreme Court against the High Court’s decision to cut trees. For which orders have also been given to the Advocate General.

Apart from this, the Himachal government is also raising demands from the central government regarding the amendment of the FCA Act 1980. Now the government is also filing a petition in this case citing the Godavarman case in the Supreme Court. In which demand for relief will also be raised for Himachal.

Minister gave a big update regarding forest land

Revenue and Horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi has appealed to those people of the state who are living on forest land under Forest Rights Act, 2006. Thousands of people of the state can legalize their traditional rights, but people are not aware of this law and are not applying for it. Under this act, before 2005, people who are occupied by three generations in forest land can get that land in their name.

Jagat Singh Negi has accused the central government of discrimination against Himachal for help in disaster relief. He said that the relief amount of 1500 crores approved for the disaster of 2023 has not been fulfilled yet. In that too, the central government has placed a condition that the first state will have to spend 500 crores, only then the center will release the remaining amount.

Also read: Himachal: Jairam Thakur said in the apple season, Jairam Thakur said- ‘Help in opening machine owners, we will pay oil expenses’