Guwahati (Assam) [India], August 1 (HBTV): Amid ongoing anti-encroachment drives, Assam Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah has pledged decisive action against non-indigenous individuals and immigrants residing illegally on forest land in Guwahati.
Baruah alleged that the presence of such populations was threatening Assamese culture and altering the demographic landscape of the region.
'A significant number of non-indigenous individuals and immigrants, or those who will end our culture, are residing on forest land in Guwahati, altering the region's demographic composition. We will take appropriate action against them. This needs to be done. Otherwise, the indigenous people of Assam will not remain due to changed demography,' Baruah told ANI.
Earlier, the Assam unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) issued a statement raising concerns over what it described as a population explosion among 'illegal Bangladeshi-origin minorities'.
The statement claimed, 'Due to the population explosion of more than 1 crore (10 million) infiltrated illegal Bangladeshi-origin minorities during the Congress regime, their long-standing attempt to convert Assam into a Miya-land will never be allowed to succeed under any circumstances.'
Assam Pradesh BJP chief spokesperson Kishor Kumar Upadhyay further said that due to 'the aggression of East Bengal origin Muslims', the indigenous population in several districts was under severe threat.
Meanwhile, in response to Assam's eviction drive against illegal settlers in reserve forest areas, neighbouring Nagaland has been placed on high alert amid concerns of a possible influx across its borders.
Nagaland Director General of Police (DGP) Rupin Sharma, IPS, addressed the situation on Tuesday, urging public cooperation with law enforcement and explaining the state's approach to the emerging issue.
Speaking to ANI, Sharma said, 'The current issue, which has been flagged by various people and is also known to the state government, is primarily due to the eviction drives carried out by the Assam government and various reserve forests in Assam.'
He clarified that those referred to as 'illegal immigrants' are, in fact, illegal settlers who had encroached upon reserve forest areas in Assam.
'Their eviction is part of a drive undertaken by the Assam Forest Department and other state agencies, as permanent settlement is not allowed in forest land,' Sharma said.
Expressing concern over the possibility of these evicted individuals attempting to enter Nagaland with their belongings, Sharma noted that the Nagaland Police have intensified security along the state’s border with Assam.
Checkpoints have been reinforced and patrolling increased to prevent unauthorised entry, he added.
(ANI)