SHILLONG, MAY 23: The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) on Thursday conducted an eviction drive against illegal settlers and dismantled their houses at Lum Survey.

The eviction drive came after the two weeks’ deadline given to the district administration of East Khasi Hills for acting against the illegal settlement on the land belonging to the Defence Estate Office, Guwahati.

A JCB was also brought to Lum Survey and kept on standby for dismantling the illegal settlement. The eviction drive was carried out amid tight security.

Speaking at the sidelines, HYC president Roy Kupar Synrem said, “today we have taken up this eviction drive after the completion of the two weeks’ time given the joint inspection was conducted by the district administration along with us.”

“We have waited for an update from the deputy commissioner on the status of our demand to evict the illegal settlers within two weeks but no words from him came. We received information that people, who are dealing with drugs, who have left the place have also returned yesterday. Based on this and also knowing that this place is the epicentre of illegal activities particularly drug trafficking, we decided to take action by dismantling these illegal settlements there,” he said.

He informed that the illegal settlers were requested to take their belongings and leave the place immediately before dismantling their houses.

“We have also got a JCB ready nearby but we did not use it since dismantling of these illegal settlement were not that difficult,” Synrem said while issuing a warning that “If these people continue to stay or if the government gives them permission to stay again then next time, we will bring four to five JCB to dismantle all illegal settlement on the said land.”

According to him, 50 percent of the 80-90 households were locked during the eviction drive.

Asked, the HYC president said, “This is the sad state of affairs in our state where we have to take the responsibility whereas actually this is the duty of the district administration as well as concerned authority to evict or to take action with regards to the illegal settlers. We condemn this as it has been a month since we have made this demand and it has been two weeks since we have conducted the joint inspection.”

“The DC also knows that these people are settling there illegally and we also know that the police department has intelligence, and has information that they use this place for supplying drugs but yet no.action was taken. So, we have to do what we have to do. HYC will not depend on the government or any administration if we feel that it is something against the interest of the community, we will take the law into our hands, we will not wait for the government or any authority to take action,” he added.

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