Ahom-Era guerilla warfare training site in Charaideo encroached

Time of India

08-06-2025

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Dibrugarh: A historically significant Ahom-era guerrilla warfare training site at Bhojo in the Sonari area of Charaideo district is facing rampant encroachment, raising concerns among archaeologists and local activists.
The site, spread over 129 bighas, was once a strategic training ground for Ahom warriors and is dotted with unique earthen mounds and trenches. Despite being declared a protected archaeological site in 2006, lack of fencing and official oversight has led to large-scale encroachment, with portions of the land now being used for vegetable farming.
The Ahom kingdom, established by Chaolung Sukapha in 1228, ruled Assam for nearly six centuries until 1826.
The Bhojo site served as a crucial training centre for guerrilla warfare tactics, helping the Ahoms resist Mughal invasions. The site features countless man-made earthen mounds, each standing 1.10 to 1.20 metres high and spaced 90-100 cm apart, and trenches used for military drills.
Discovered in 2006, the site is among 157 protected monuments under the Directorate of Archaeology, Assam.
However, despite its protected status, the site has fallen prey to systematic encroachment over recent months.
Locals have illegally occupied vast portions of the historical site, transforming the ancient training grounds into vegetable gardens surrounded by bamboo fencing. Most alarmingly, several of the centuries-old earthen mounds have been deliberately cut down and flattened to create level ground suitable for crop cultivation, permanently destroying irreplaceable archaeological evidence.
The gravity of the situation prompted the Tai Ahom Yuba Praishad (TAYPA) to conduct an urgent site inspection on Sunday.
Led by president Diganta Tamuly, the delegation expressed serious concerns about the ongoing destruction of the invaluable heritage site.
"This is not just simple land encroachment — it's the erasure of history. The Ahoms defended Assam against foreign invasions using these very tactics. To see such a site being destroyed by encroachers is unacceptable. If the govt doesn't act now, this historic site will be lost forever," Tamuly said.
He blamed the Directorate of Archaeology for negligence, saying despite the site's protected status, no boundary wall or fencing was erected to prevent encroachment.
"For 19 years, this site has been unprotected. Encroachers have taken full advantage. We demand the immediate arrest of those responsible and urgent measures to secure the area. It is disheartening to witness such blatant disregard for our history and heritage," Tamuly added.
TAYPA has urged Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma to intervene and ensure the site's preservation.