ES Reporter

MIAO, Feb 8: Hundreds of Chakma refugees today gheraoed and obstructed the Changlang district administration and police team led by Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Miao, Sunny K Singh while on duty to demarcate the boundary between  Neoton village and Chakma settled Dharmapur village under Miao subdivision.  
The ADC informed that the district administration had received a complaint against illegal stone mining activities nearby the village boundary which was altering the natural course of the river flow. The district administration later confirmed through official documents and research that the mining area falls under the Neoton village and the residents of Dharmapur were ‘illegally’ mining inside the territorial jurisdiction of the Neoton village, the ADC informed. 
“To stop encroachment and to protect the nature, it was necessary to demarcate and to stop the stone collection. However, the process could not be completed as the people gheraoed our team,” he said adding that the team was not allowed to speak with the Chakma village head.
The ADC further said that the district administration was not fully prepared for the situation but it will try to speak with the Dharmapur village head again. The team could erect only four boundary pillars.
“DA has also received a representation from the people of Dharmapur on the alleged ‘forceful demarcation’. But it lacks evidence; also the demarcation process was official and the district administration was just following the orders of the state government,” he clarified.
Singh also said that the area is critical in terms of the safety of the Neoton village as mining activity is causing the river course to change, thereby also posing danger of soil erosion and floods.
“It should be clear that the demarcation is not against any tribe but for the safety of people and nature," he said while refuting allegations that demarcation was against one community or race.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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