Army as saviours of Satras in Asom

Guwahati, Aug 24 (UNI) Army will not only fight militants in Asom but also act as protector of the Satras, seats of Vashnavite culture in the state.

The Satra Mahasabha has demanded the help of the Army in freeing the Satra land in occupation of alleged Bangladeshi infiltrators.

Sathra Mahasabha president Bhadreswar Goswami recently informed mediapersons in New Delhi that the Sabha had submitted a list of encroached land to the Army a month ago.

He said they were forced to approach the Army after the state government failed to provide them protection and free the grabbed land.

The Mahasabha president alleged that Bangladeshi immigrants had been forcibly living on the Satra lands. With the state machinery not responding to their appeals, the Mahasabha had to seek the help of the Army, he added.

Mr Goswami said out of the total 150 bighas of Satra land in Alipur Satra of Nagaon, only 12 bighas were in the possession of the rightful owners.

Massive encroachment had also taken place in Alengi Satra of Lakhimpur and Somoria Satra of Boko.

He further informed that the Mahasabha would soon meet the President and the Prime Minister and appeal for the sealing of the Indo-Bangladesh border.

The Mahasabha's stand has once again brought to the fore the demographic change the state is heading to in wake of unabated infiltration from Bangladesh.

UNI SG BA SS1243