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DIPHU — The Karbi Students Association (KSA – Inglongpho) team visited the inter-district border areas of Kangar village, situated between Hojai, NC Hills, and Karbi Anglong districts. The village is approximately 45 kilometres from Diphu.
During the visit, KSA members allegedly witnessed road construction, electricity connections from Hojai district, and the clearing of vast hill areas for cultivation by land encroachers. Proper border pillars for demarcating inter-district boundaries were reportedly absent.
At the site, George Timung, the General Secretary of KSA, commented on the condition of the border areas, suggesting that the KAAC authority should take action, such as implementing border development schemes, to develop these areas. He urged the KAAC to install pillars along the inter-district border to establish clear demarcation. Furthermore, he alleged potential illegal activities such as coal mining, timber smuggling, and cattle theft in the areas.
Barnabas Killing, the External Affairs Secretary of KSA, noted that during the visit, they observed cultivation by encroachers inside Karbi Anglong. However, on the North Cachar Hills side, there was no evidence of forest clearing. He highlighted that both the people and the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC) authority appeared to be more vigilant about border protection. Development initiatives were evident on the NCHAC side, and forests were well-preserved.
Timung suggested that the KAAC should launch a border development scheme to safeguard the border area. He further noted that settlers residing along the inter-state boundaries inside Karbi Anglong possessed voter IDs and other documents from Hojai district.
Timung highlighted that all developments, including roads and electricity, were facilitated by Hojai district. Timung emphasised that without border development, protecting the border would be challenging. Additionally, he claimed that illegal settlers cast their votes in Hojai district.