The Hynñiewtrep Youths Council (HYC) is running out of patience with regards to the stalled evictions of squatters on government land in Lum Survey.
Today, HYC president Roy Kupar Synrem threatened that the pressure group would take the law into its own hands once again if the government did not immediately act on a court ruling expected to be favourable to eviction on August 19.
The HYC rampaged its way through Lum Survey in May, destroying dwellings and forcing residents to flee.
Today, the East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner convened a meeting with the HYC, Shillong Cantonment Board CEO and Superintendent of Police to discuss the issue.
In the meeting, the HYC questioned why the Estate Officer has not evicted the residents of between 82 to 100 households who are believed to be illegal settlers. Synrem said that the Estate Officer has not issued any lease agreement to them and not made them tenants, so the HYC failed to understand why action was not taken as per the Public Premises Eviction Act.
The HYC was told that the District and Sessions Court had stayed the eviction on the whole plot of land at Lum Survey, which measures around a quarter of an acre. The stay order applies, according to the government, to the entire plot and therefore to all the residents even though only three people who owned businesses there had moved the court to stay the evictions.
“They (the government representatives) also informed us they are confident that on August 19 the court order will be in their favour and after that steps will be taken to evict them,” Synrem said, adding a threat that the eviction must follow immediately after otherwise the HYC will not hold back.
After the May action, cases were filed against HYC leaders and they have been restricted from entering the Lum Survey area. The pressure group has claimed that the area is a hub of illegal activities, such as the drug trade.
