Alleged land mafia activities, including illegal encroachment on government land and the filling of water-bodies, have become a growing concern in Sonamura, with residents accusing the Sonamura Nagar Panchayat and the sub-divisional administration of administrative inaction.
Tension gripped the Office Tilla area of Sonamura under Sepahijala district on Thursday following allegations of large-scale land filling and partial demolition of a Kali temple. Residents claimed that despite repeated objections from the local community, the alleged land mafia continued the earth-filling work unabated. They further alleged that those attempting to resist the activities were threatened, raising fears of a possible clash between the opposing groups.
According to local residents, the administration had inspected the site nearly a fortnight ago following complaints regarding the alleged encroachment and earth-filling. However, they claimed that no effective action was taken, allowing the work to continue until Thursday afternoon, when police were finally deployed to stop the operation temporarily.
Speaking to local media persons, Additional Sub-Divisional Magistrate (ASDM) of Sonamura, Dibyendu Das said that the earth-filling work has been halted for the time being and that the matter will be examined in detail after the Durga Puja holidays.
The incident has drawn added attention as the disputed site is located close to the Sonamura SDM's office and the official residence of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, prompting questions from residents over the administration's response.
Residents living near the N.C. Institution Hostel at Office Tilla alleged that under the cover of darkness on Wednesday night, a portion of the boundary wall of a Kali temple was demolished to create an access road for transporting earth to the site. They claimed that a similar attempt had been made about two weeks earlier, which had led to a confrontation between local residents and the alleged land mafia.
According to the residents, they had informed both the Sonamura Nagar Panchayat and the sub-divisional administration about the earlier incident, but alleged inaction by the authorities resulted in the recurrence of the problem.
Locals further alleged that the encroachers are not only targeting the Kali temple but are also attempting to occupy land belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) hostel of the historic N.C. Institution under the pretext of constructing a road.
The Kali temple, established around 12 years ago, hosts daily prayers and an annual religious festival, making it an important place of worship for the local community. Residents said the alleged damage to the temple has deeply hurt religious sentiments and intensified public anger.
Questioning how anyone could allegedly encroach upon the land of a historic educational institution and damage a place of worship, several residents expressed suspicion that influential individuals might be backing the alleged land grab.
While the allegations have sparked widespread concern in the area, the claims made by local residents could not be independently verified, and no official statement addressing the allegations of encroachment or temple demolition had been issued by the authorities at the time of filing this report.