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The Hindu
07-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Arunachal Pradesh officials warned against violating Supreme Court judgment on Chakma-Hajong issue
GUWAHATI A rights activist and member of the core group of the National Human Rights Commission has warned officials in Arunachal Pradesh against violating the Supreme Court's 1996 judgment, seeking the protection of the rights of all Chakma and Hajong people living in the State since the 1960s. Senior officials and District Magistrates in Arunachal Pradesh could face contempt of court if they held a meeting with representatives of the All Arunachal Pradesh Students' Union (AAPSU) on the contentious Chakma-Hajong issue, Suhas Chakma, also director of the Delhi-based Rights and Risks Analysis Group, said. In a notification on July 3, the State's Home Department called for a meeting with the AAPSU on Tuesday (July 8, 2025) with a three-point agenda — deportation of illegal immigrants, review and rectification of the voter list/electoral roll, and land records and encroachment by Chakma-Hajong settlers. Also Read | Chakmas and Hajongs: The peoples without a state The apex court, in its judgment on January 9, 1996, directed the Arunachal Pradesh government to protect the life and personal liberty of each Chakma and Hajong person residing within the State from organised groups, Mr. Chakma said. The Supreme Court also said that quit notices issued by any group, 'which tantamount to threats to the life and liberty' of the communities concerned, 'should be dealt with in accordance with the law'. 'Instead of complying with this direction, the State government has made AAPSU a part of the government decision-making by inviting it to the official meeting to be held on July 8. A non-state actor being invited to the official meeting for decision-making is unheard of, and non est in law,' Mr. Chakma said. 'It amounts to making a non-state actor act as the complainant, judge, jury, and executioner. This is in absolute contravention of basic tenets of the rule of law, including Article 14 and Article 21 of the Constitution of India, and most importantly, in contempt of the Supreme Court's 1996 judgment. No court shall take such indiscretion lightly,' he said. The rights activist also reminded the State government of the apex court's ruling, which says that 'while the application of any individual Chakma is pending consideration', the Arunachal Pradesh government 'shall not evict or remove the concerned person from his occupation on the ground that he is not a citizen of India until the competent authority has taken a decision on that behalf'. The Arunachal Pradesh government did not process a single citizenship application, as directed by the Supreme Court, Mr. Chakma said. 'Instead, the government is taking decisions to remove the Chakmas and Hajongs from their occupations, and evict them,' he added. Displaced by a dam and religious persecution in the erstwhile East Pakistan, the primarily Buddhist Chakmas, and the Hindu Hajongs were settled in a few pockets of Arunachal Pradesh between 1964 and 1969. The final count of the refugees was 14,888. In September 2015, the Supreme Court sought citizenship for the approximately 7,000 Chakma-Hajong people who were alive at the time.
Hindustan Times
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Arunachal Pradesh students' union protests against illegal immigrants
The All Arunachal Pradesh Students' Union (AAPSU), the premier student organisation in the state, on Monday held a massive rally in the state capital of Itanagar, demanding immediate action against what they claim to be a demographic threat posed by illegal immigrants, particularly the Chakma and Hajong communities. Joined by scores of community-based organisations, district student unions and concerned citizens, the demonstration culminated in the submission of a 12-point memorandum to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs via the state chief secretary. AAPSU reiterated its longstanding demands for the identification and deportation of illegal immigrants and re-verification of the electoral rolls. Speaking at the rally, AAPSU president Dozi Tana Tara warned of a looming cultural and legal crisis. 'The presence of illegal immigrants, especially Chakma and Hajong, is not just a population issue — it's a direct threat to our constitutional rights, tribal land ownership, and cultural identity,' he said. 'The time for complacency is over. The government must act decisively.' The students' union alleged that while only 56 Chakma-Hajong families were settled in Arunachal in the 1960s, the population has since grown unchecked, with many allegedly gaining access to benefits reserved for Scheduled Tribes, encroaching on community land, and flouting forest norms. Referring to a recent land dispute in Tissing-Singpho village, where a tribal woman's property was reportedly seized by settlers, AAPSU said such alleged incidents underscore the urgent need for intervention. 'If deportation isn't feasible, relocation to other states must be considered,' Tara added. The memorandum also flagged violations of the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR), 1873, law-and-order concerns and the undocumented status of many settlers. It also called for a review of all beneficiary schemes that may have been accessed by illegal immigrants. AAPSU termed Monday's rally as part of an 'intensified democratic struggle' and urged all CBOs to remain alert. 'This is not just our fight — it's about safeguarding the future of Arunachal's indigenous communities,' Tara said. The Chakmas and Hajongs, originally residents of the Chittagong Hill Tracts of the former East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), had to flee when their land was submerged due to the Kaptai dam project in the 1960s. The groups entered India through what was then the Lushai Hills district of Assam (today's Mizoram). While some stayed back with Chakmas already living in the Lushai Hills, the Indian government moved a majority of the refugees to present-day Arunachal Pradesh. Chakmas are predominantly Buddhists, while the Hajongs are Hindus.
United News of India
27-05-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
Apex students' body urges implementation of MHA directives to safeguard indigenous electoral rights
Itanagar, May 27 (UNI) The All Arunachal Pradesh Students' Union (AAPSU) has called for the strict implementation of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) directives to deport illegal Bangladeshi immigrants from the state, aiming to protect the electoral rights of the indigenous people. Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, AAPSU General Secretary Ritum Tali informed that a memorandum on the issue has been submitted to Chief Minister Pema Khandu. 'We have also sought an appointment with the Union Home Minister to raise the matter nationally, particularly regarding the long-standing Chakma-Hajong refugee issue in Arunachal Pradesh, and to demand a final legal resolution,' Tali said. He expressed deep concern over the increasing number of illegal immigrants, particularly from Bangladesh, alleging that many have managed to acquire voting rights and government benefits. Tali claimed that in many assembly constituencies, the indigenous communities are being outnumbered by outsiders, which is now influencing electoral outcomes. 'In recent times, districts such as Namsai, Lohit, and Lower Dibang Valley have witnessed a surge in non-indigenous voters. This trend directly threatens the political representation of indigenous communities and must be addressed through legislative and administrative action,' the AAPSU leader asserted. The apex students' body has urged the state government to issue clear guidelines on the enrollment of non-locals and warned of serious consequences if corrective measures are not implemented. In line with MHA directives, the AAPSU announced the launch of 'Operation Clean Drive', a month-long campaign to identify and report illegal immigrants. 'Peaceful dharnas will be organized across the state with support from district student unions and the general public,' Tali said. The student body also raised concerns over the increasing population of Chakma and Hajong communities in the Diyun area, alleging that their growing economic dominance is marginalizing local populations. 'The state government must implement a structured mechanism for their deportation or area confinement. We demand a time-bound resolution to this long-pending issue,' Tali emphasized. AAPSU further condemned China's repeated attempts to rename places in Arunachal Pradesh, describing it as a blatant infringement on India's sovereignty. UNI TD BD
