The Gauhati High Court had, in October past year, ordered eviction in three villages – Bandardubi, Deosursang and Palkhowa – near Kaziranga National Park.
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Two persons, including a woman, were killed in the firing.
The eviction drive came in the wake of an order passed by a division bench of the Guwahati High Court.
Around 190 and 160 families were evicted from Banderdubi and Deochurchang respectively.
The situation in the area was still tense but under control with the eviction drive continuing. The habitants in Kaziranga National Park would be well acquainted with the areas and animal movements, therefore they alone would be in a position to do poaching successfully or abet poaching by others. The clash took place after government forces engaged in an eviction drive.
According to The Telegraph, the High Court had ruled that since the residents were living there for many years, they were aware of the region’s geography and hence were “in the ideal position to poach animals or abet poachers”. He told the Assam Tribune, “Where will these people go?” A delegation of the Congress, including party president Ripun Bora and senior leaders Ajanta Neog, Nurul Huda, Rupjyoti Kurmi, had visited the Bandardubi area and met the people there and said that they would raise the matter in the Assembly. The same organisation has been demanding for compensation and a proper rehabilitation for the peasants, warning that “Singur like situation” may arise if the government stays adamant at evicting the villagers, according to The Assam Tribune report.
The eviction was supposed to be completed between Sep 19 and 21, he said. The first, fourth and sixth additions to the park are under heavy encroachment of suspected illegal migrants.
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He said that the government should have allowed these people to remain there for another three months and by the end of that period, the people should have been provided alternative land and money to properly settle down.
