Garo Hills Council Cracks Down on Illegal Settlements at Meghalaya-Assam Border

The Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) demolished six illegally-constructed houses along Meghalaya's border with Assam, an official confirmed on Wednesday. The action took place on Tuesday, following the settlers' inability to produce proper land ownership documents, according to GHADC Deputy Chief Executive Member, Nikman Ch Marak.

Marak stated that notices were issued to the settlers, yet they continued to occupy the area past the given deadline. "They could not show documents to prove ownership of land and continued to occupy the area even after the deadline, so we had to act," he explained, emphasizing the continued encroachment attempts on council land by those of Assam origin.

The GHADC is now coordinating efforts with local leaders, such as Nokmas and Rangbah Shnongs, to identify and prevent similar incidents in the future. Marak noted the necessity of these actions, especially as Assam has recently been taking strong measures against encroachment on its side of the border.

(With inputs from agencies.)