Decades-Long Land Dispute in North Tripura: 83 Families Encroach on Forest Land
In a protracted land dispute spanning several decades, 83 families have taken up residence on forest land under the jurisdiction of the Forest Department in Ward No. 5 of Pekuacherra Gram Panchayat, located within Panisagar Nagar Panchayat in North Tripura district. Despite numerous attempts, the Forest Department has been unsuccessful in their efforts to evict the encroachers.
On Tuesday, a team comprising Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Animesh Das IFS, North District Forest Officer Suman Mol, Divisional Forest Officer Ashok Kumar, and rangers from Dharmanagar and Panisagar conducted a site visit. Following their inspection, they submitted a report to their superiors.
The report disclosed that the encroachment began 25 to 30 years ago with a single Muslim family settling on the land. Over time, the number of families increased to 83, all residing in Ward No. 5.
The families originate from Dasda, Laljuri, Subhash Nagar, and Bara Haldi in Kanchanpur. They allege that they were compelled to abandon their homes in Mizoram due to persecution by the Bru tribe, leading them to seek refuge on government land.
Despite the Forest Department’s repeated attempts to evict them over the years, they have been met with resistance. Communication with the Muslim family that initiated the encroachment has been hindered by a language barrier.
Recent reports indicate that an additional 14 families arrived last Saturday, bringing the total to 83. These families claim that they were driven to encroach upon the Forest Department’s land in Panisagar due to unbearable conditions imposed by the Reang community members in another area of Kanchanpur.
The Forest Department’s continued failure to relocate these families has drawn criticism from various sectors. The future of these families now hangs in the balance, contingent on the government’s decision regarding their fate and the measures it will implement to resolve the situation.
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