Free land patta to be given to Karbi martyrs – CEM Ronghang
Chief executive member (CEM) of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), Tuliram Ronghang will be provided free of cost to the villagers of Sarpo Teron and Sarthe Engti
- DIPHU — Chief
executive member (CEM) of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC), Tuliram
Ronghang, on Monday assured that land pattas, along with street lights and
others, will be provided free of cost to the villagers of Sarpo Teron and
Sarthe Engti.
- He was speaking during the observation of the 20th annual
memorial for those killed during the Karbi-Kuki clash on March 24, 2004, at
Memorial Park, Sarpo Teron village, Langvoku.
- Sarpo Teron, Langvoku, which is about 25 km from the
district headquarter town Diphu, remembered the victims of the March 24, 2004,
massacre.
- Clashes erupted between the two communities in Karbi Anglong
in 2003 – 2004 and in one incident, Kuki militants allegedly shot death 19
villagers including the son of the village headman.
- On the occasion, the gathering remembered the departed by
offering flowers and prayers at the memorial column.
- As mentioned in the memorandum submitted by the villagers,
the CEM assured that the 6 families who did not receive ex-gratia from the
government for the loss of their family members will get ex-gratia within a
month.
- Besides, the 19 villagers killed by the militants will be
honoured as Karbi heroes (nokbe) and their statues erected in a children's park
which will be constructed soon, the CEM announced.
- Speaking on the loss of 19 Karbi lives, the CEM said, “It
was not the Kukis living here that have perpetrated the crime, but Kukis from
Manipur and Myanmar that have come to kill our brothers. I cannot accept Kukis
coming from Manipur and elsewhere. Till I am the CEM I cannot give them land
nor shelter. Karbi Anglong cannot be called ‘Tribal land’ as claimed by some
vested opposition leaders.”
- The CEM explained that “tribal” does not mean that those
from Jharkhand and Orissa can be accepted.
- Just in the name of tribal communities, land cannot be given
to anybody who asked for it, he added.
