OUR CORRESPONDENT
SIVASAGAR: The All Tai Ahom Students’ Union (ATASU) staged a mass protest in Sivasagar today, demanding scientific preservation and beautification of ancient historical monuments from the Ahom era. Thousands of ATASU protestors marched from Boarding Field to Dolmukh Chariali, where the police set up barricades, leading to tense moments. Eventually, the protestors held a demonstration at Dolmukh Chariali.
Speaking at the protest, ATASU’s Central President Basanta Gogoi asserted that the historical monuments, symbols of Ahom swargadeos’ valour and Assamese pride, have been continuously encroached upon. He warned that such negligence threatens structures like the high Shiva Doul, Vishnu Doul, and Devi Doul due to the declining water levels of the Jamuna Canal, caused by encroachments. He also alleged that both outsiders and Assamese people were involved in illegal occupation, including Ahoms who have set up a Tai Sanskriti Bikash Kendra on encroached land and individuals who have taken over the historic Ranganath Shiva Doul.
Gogoi further accused corrupt officials in the central and state archaeological departments of enabling such encroachments. He demanded the government to take action within a month. If no steps are taken, ATASU will launch an eviction drive against the encroachers and expose them publicly, he said.
Joining the protest, Monirul Islam Bora, President of the Ujoni Axom Muslim Kalyan Parishad, revealed that former Sivasagar Deputy Commissioner SS Meenakshi Sundaram had identified 551 historical sites in the district and sent the list to the archaeological department, but no significant action was taken. He pointed out that experts in 2000 recommended covering the historic Rang Ghar with a glass enclosure for preservation, warning that without such measures the structure could collapse within 50 years. Additionally, the burial site of Joymoti, known as Fakuwa Doul, is also under threat due to alleged encroachment.
Several other leaders, including Chitu Baruah, President of the Jatiya Sangrami Sena, Debajit Dutta, President of the Sangrami Yuva Chatra Parishad, and Pankaj Khound, President of Sangrami Sena, also addressed the gathering, calling for all Assamese people to unite in removing encroachments.
Further, ATASU President Basanta Gogoi announced a massive public rally in Sivasagar in the last week of March, demanding the preservation of historical monuments, tribal status for six indigenous communities and autonomous governance for the Tai Ahom community. A four-point memorandum was also submitted to the Assam Chief Minister through the district administration by ATASU district President Akhil Ahom and Secretary Partha Gogoi.
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