Over 650 families of the indigenous Moran communities, across multiple villages in the Tinsukia district of Assam, remain displaced for more than three decades. The families lost everything to the devastating flood and erosion by the Dangori and Dibru River across multiple villages like Kordoiguri, Bishnupur, Tamuli, Betoni and Goriating of Tinsukia in 1992.
In June 2022, the Land Advisory Board of Tinsukia district, allotted alternate land to the affected families in Tengoni Huijan village, a land covered by Tea Gardens, around 20 km away from their original village. Each family was allotted 1 bigha (0.3 acre) of land. However, the allotted lands were allegedly encroached upon and occupied by two local businessmen, viz., Sriprakash Lahoti and Rupak Dutta. They set up tea plantations illegally in a large portion of the area. Lahoti further filed a civil suit in the district court against the government's decision. The civil court dismissed the suit and instructed the government departments to resettle the affected families on the said land. Despite such directives, Sriprakash Lahoti returned to the land in question with tea garden workers and forcefully evicted the eligible settlers from the land. And, threatened them not to return.
Hundreds of them currently live in bamboo huts, temporary flood shelters and tarpaulin tents with women and children.
While speaking to LCW, Lohit Moran, who is a representative of the affected community and Kordoiguir Anchalik Yubak Sangha, a local grassroots organization, said, "Since 1992, more than 20 villages disappeared as a result of flood and erosion. In 2018, an elder of the village, Padmadhar Moran died from flood erosion. It's so unfortunate that for more than 20 years, a vast amount of government land is being illegally encroached upon by local businessmen and other wealthy groups, yet, no action has been taken so far."
Bhaben Moran, one of the affected community members told LCW, "We need justice. We have lost all of our lands to flood erosion. Can you see under what conditions we are living in this school playground? We have given up on all our hopes. Please help us."
Rubel Moran, one of 24 affected community members, stated, "Since the 1992 flood and erosion, we've lost our homes and land in Kordoiguri, Tinsukia. Despite promises of resettlement, we remain sheltered in the Kordoiguri school playground. As daily wage workers, it's difficult to afford our children's education. We urge the government to provide fair compensation and proper resettlement."
Despite legal decisions, political commitments, and administrative assurances, none of the 650 families belonging to the Indigenous Moran community have been properly rehabilitated or provided with land rights or pattas. Many families currently living under precarious conditions on the eroding river banks of the Brahmaputra River, are facing constant threats to their lives and lacking a reliable source of income.
The devastating floods have consumed everything they once had, including their possibilities of finding a new place to rebuild their homes and lives, leaving these flood-affected Indigenous communities in an abyss.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Demand for compensation
Demand for legal recognition of land rights
Demand for rehabilitation
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Resettlement on the land allotted by the Government encroached by local businessmen
Region Classification
Rural
Type of Land
Common
Non-Forest (Other than Grazing Land)
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Original Project Deadline
Whether the Project has been Delayed
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Residential area
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Source/Reference
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
Type of investment:
Year of Estimation
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Forced evictions/dispossession of land
Lack of legal protection over land rights
Non-rehabilitation of displaced people
Delay in allottment and possession of land/property
Non-implementation of land reform laws
Violation of fundamental rights
Non-payment of compensation/promised compensation
Violation of standard international laws
Legal Status:
In Court
Status of Case In Court
Pending
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
Yes
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Court of the Civil Judge, Tinsukia
Case Number
Title suit No. 29 of 2021
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Blackmail/threats/intimidation
Displacement
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
No
Reported Details of the Violation:
Date of Violation
June 21, 2022
Location of Violation
Bokpara Tea Garden
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
Doomdooma circle office, Deputy commissioner Tinsukia (ceiling & settlement branch), Land advisory board of Assam (Tinsukia), Revenue and Disaster Management Department of Assam
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
Yes
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
Moran Yuva Parishad, Kordoiguri Anchalik Yubak Sangha, Asom Moran Sabha (AMS)
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
East Street Journal Asia is a multilingual, Web-based news journal. It is an independent media organisation whose goal is to make transparent, unbiased and data-driven journalism accessible to all.
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