RUKM and JSM to meet Governor for clearing tribal belts and blocks

From our Correspondent

KOKRAJHAR, March 2: A joint delegation of the Royal Union of Koch Mech (RUKM) led by its president Kumar Prithviraj rayan Dev Mech and Bodoland Jajati Suraksha Manch (BJSM) led by the working president Daorao Dekreb rzary will meet the Governor of Assam, PB Acharya on March 5 to discuss issues of the tribal people of the region and clearing all tribal belts and blocks from illegal settlers.

In a press statement issued by Kumar Prithviraj rayan Dev Mech, it was stated that the joint delegation would participate in the meeting and discuss with the Governor regarding protection of tribal belts and blocks from illegal occupation by non-tribal immigrants. He said that as per the Assam Land Revenue and Regulation Act, 1947, the unprotected class of non-tribal people who entered the tribal belts and blocks after the year of 1947 were illegal encroachers of this area.

Dev Mech also said that the joint delegation would discuss about the royal heritage and history of the greater Bodo community. He said that the historical Mech (Bodo) royal kingdoms should be included in the present BTC area. The territory of BTC should be extended to all those areas covered by the Bodo historical kingdoms and the Bodo kingdoms should be merged with the proposed Bodoland state.

Dev Mech added that the delegation would also discuss with the Governor to take necessary steps for the conservation of the historical Chikjhar area. He said Chikjhar was at present located in the north-eastern part of Kokrajhar district. The Mech (Bodo) historical kingdom was established at Chikjhar. Chikra Mech alias Chik rayan was the founder king of the historical kingdom. Chikra Mech is also popularly known as Chik Jwhwlao in the Bodo society.

He said the joint delegation of RUKM and BJSM would also urge the Governor to take immediate steps for the promotion and uplift of Bathou religion (Bathouism). They would also talk about the Sixth Schedule provision and the constitutiol protection or safeguard of the Bodo community who are the sons of the soil in this land.

The tiol legal advisor of tiol Housing Board and Bodo intellectual Bakul Chandra Basumatary, the president of Kokrajhar district Dularai Gudi Bathou Afat Raju rzary along with the other executives of the organizations and many Bodo intellectuals will also join the delegation and actively take part in the discussion for the development as well as the greater interest of the Bodo community. Dev Mech urged the Bodo community to remain united as the same sons of the Bodo Bima (Mother) and move forward together for their socio-political as well as constitutiol rights.

The RUKM leader said the Prime Minister had ordered the Government of Assam to evacuate all the illegal encroachers from tribal belts and blocks as per law and the same order had been also given to the BTC administration. Meanwhile, the Governor of Assam had also ordered the Deputy Commissioner of Kokrajhar district to evacuate the allegedly illegally established housings by the Jamiat Ullema -e-Hind in the Kathalguri area of Gossaigaon subdivision.