Aizawl, January 16, 2018 : At least six “illegal” migrant families belonging to Chakma community have been served an ultimatum to leave Mizoram before February end.
The six families settled in Kolasib near Tlawng river under the jurisdiction of Hortoki village council in Mizoram-Assam border. “They migrated from neighbouring Assam and settled down here near Hortoki village,” Young Mizo Association sources said, without elaborating when the settlement came up.
Volunteers of YMA and Hortoli Village Council members on Friday rushed to the area to identify the migrants. The villagers said six Chakma families who migrated from Baichora in Assam had settled down near Tlawng river in Hortoki area which comes under Kolasib District. According to Lalhruiatluanga, president of Hortoki village council, the six families settled down at two places.
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| The alleged illegal settlement in Hortoli. Source: Zoram Observer |
“They migrated from neighbouring Assam and illegally live in Mizoram,” he said.
He added that the migrants were not enrolled in Mizoram electoral roll and two of the six families live in one place, while two others live in separate place.
“The six Chakma families had about 25 members and they are currently engaged in broom-farming and jhum cultivation,” Lalhruiatluanga said.
The village leaders and YMA volunteers who inspected settlement served the eviction order with a warning that they will conduct inspection again in March.
Meanwhile, the Mizo Zirlai Pawl sub-headquarters of Kolasib district also said several illegal migrants were living in Mizoram without valid electoral ID. The organization said that it would take massive effort to push back the six Chakma families to their native in Assam.
Source: zoramobserver.com