Shillong, July 8: The Hynniewtrep Youth’ Council (HYC) has asked the state government to evict illegal settlers from Lum Survey, stating that the area has become a shelter for anti-social and criminal elements.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday, HYC president Roy Kupar Synrem said the area was rapidly turning into “a lawless pocket and a breeding ground for drug peddling, trafficking, and other criminal activities.”
The council rejected the argument that a pending court case was preventing evictions. “The continued excuse of pending court case(s) is both misleading and unacceptable,” HYC stated.
It pointed out that the case involved “only three individuals claiming rights over a portion of the land” and argued that “it cannot be used as a blanket excuse to justify total inaction over the remaining areas of Lum Survey.”
According to HYC, large portions of government and defence land in Lum Survey have been “brazenly occupied by illegal settlers without any authority” and are now being used as “a safe shelter for anti-social and criminal elements.”
The Council said this poses “a serious threat to nearby localities and to the youth of Shillong.”
HYC held the authorities directly responsible for the situation.
“The blame lies squarely on the state government and the office of the Defence Estate Officer for their silence, negligence, and refusal to act. Their inaction has effectively handed over public land to illegal occupants and allowed criminal networks to thrive under the nose of the authorities,” the statement said.
The youth body has called for “immediate eviction of all illegal settlers occupying those portions of Lum Survey land that are not covered by the pending court matter,” adding that the council will be compelled to take action if the matter is not resolved.
