Phukan Favours Laws on Land Alienation

Source: The Assam Tribune
Guwahati, Jan 13: The Justice PC Phukan Commission of Enquiry , which probed the 2003 clashes between the Hmars and the Dimasas, has suggested that relevant laws should be made foolproof to prevent alienation of land to outsiders in the two districts of NC Hills and Cachar. It has said that land system should be introduced by making appropriate laws to bring uniformity of occupation system after taking into account the local customs.

The State Government constituted the Commission on June 30, 2003. The report of the commission was tabled on the floor of the State Assembly on January 12.

Considering the problem of insurgency in the region, the Commission has said, a mechanism should be evolved for close coordination among the NE states to check inter-state movements of the militants and non-citizens, says the Commission in its report.

It has also suggested that the State Government may actively consider the North Cachar Hills District administration proposal for setting up four new police stations at Harangazao, Langting, Dehangi and Diyungmukh. Besides, more police outposts may be established with adequate strength for effective coverage in the sensitive areas and permanent arrangement should be made for deployment of more security forces when needed in an affected area at a short notice, says the Commission.

It has observed that lack of adequate number of police stations and outposts is detrimental for effective policing in the two districts of North Cachar Hills and Cachar, more particularly in the first one. The NC Hills District has only four police stations of Haflong, Mahur, Maibong and Umrangshu. The distance among the police stations is significantly also wide.

In a significant observation, the Commission has said that Hmar-Dimasa conflict in NC Hills and parts of Cachar District may continue until and unless the infiltration of militants into these two districts from Manipur and Mizoram is stopped.

Since both the districts are affected by the Hmar-Dimasa conflict, the law and order authorities of both the districts should frequently exchange intelligence and make a concerted effort to combat militancy and militant triggered ethnic violence.

Urgent steps should be taken to provide maximum connectivity to villages through rail, roads and telecommunication to enable the security forces to move fast to the affected areas and to take prompt and effective action to quell violence, says the Commission.

It has suggested that the State Government might consider purchasing a helicopter of required sitting capacity for aerial reconnaissance of the affected area, rescue operation of the injured etc at time when incidents of violence occur.

The State Government has accepted the report of the Commission and it reviewing of security and insurgency activities in the districts of Karbi Anglong and NC Hills, says the action taken report of the State Government on the recommendations of the Justice Phukan Commission.

The action taken report has also stated that the State Government is actively considering taking a helicopter on long-term lease. In the meantime, the helicopter of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India is being used in emergency situation.

Six new police stations and eight new out posts in the district of Karbi Anglong and four new police stations and eight new out posts in the district of NC Hills have been established by the State Government, says the action taken report, among others.