A team has been set up to investigate allegations of illegal settlement of migrants in the village of Wadagokgre under Phulbari PS in West Garo Hills (WGH).
Confirming the development, the deputy commissioner of WGH, Ram Singh said that the team would be led by the SDO – Civil of the Dadenggre subdivision along with members of the GHADC (Revenue department), Art and Culture department along with policemen to verify the complaints.
The village has been in the limelight over allegations of hundreds of migrants, mostly from Assam and outside forcefully setting up houses and settlements in the archeological site of the ASI. The families that have settled in the village have also been accused of illegally setting up stone quarries as well as mining stones.
“We also want to sort out the matter and if encroachment has happened on government property a complaint will be filed by the ASI. If it is on Aking land of the Nokma, appropriate action will be taken by the GDC Court,” said the DC.
Wadagokgre has been a historically important site as it is the apparent site of an ancient kingdom. Many archeological finds have been made by the ASI in the area which point to early settlement of people in the area. The site is currently under ASI though major portions of the land has been encroached upon by settlers.
“We hope that necessary action is taken on the matter and the illegal settlers are evicted from the area. The continued encroachment of our land by those from Assam and beyond is a burning issue that has to be acted on,” said NGO member, Peter A Sangma of Phulbari.
