Guwahati, Jan. 5: The outlawed United People’s Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) has announced a seven-day economic blockade from January 12 in the two districts of Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills in protest against destruction of forests by ginger cultivators. “The blockade is a step towards implementing a practical and rational forest policy that our outfit has drafted to protect the dwindling green cover in the two districts,” the Karbi Anglong N.C. Hills People’s Resistance, which is the armed wing of the UPDS, said in a release here. “We protest against massive destruction of forestry and green vegetation by ginger cultivators in the two districts,” it added.
Intelligence sources said what has actually angered the UPDS is the refusal by ginger cultivators, mainly Kukis, to pay “tax”. The outfit has instructed all its units to “shoot and destroy at sight” trucks and other vehicles that ply in the districts in defiance of the blockade.
The UPDS has also appealed to the state government to penalise government officials for “encouraging” ginger cultivation.
It said top district officials such as the deputy commissioner and superintendent of police were encouraging ginger cultivators. “The government should punish the cultivators for destroying the forest cover of the two districts.”
The Karbi militant outfit will launch an indefinite blockade on the national highway passing through Karbi Anglong from February 1 if the government fails to penalise “errant officials and cultivators”, the KNPR release, issued by its general secretary H.E. Kathar, said.
“Apart from creating awareness among the villagers about the need to protect the rich flora and fauna of Karbi Anglong, we conduct regular patrolling in the areas near Kaziranga to prevent poaching of wild animals,” Kathar had told newspersons recently at the outfit’s “general militia commission” in eastern Karbi Anglong.
The outfit has already imposed a ban on killing of wildlife, fishing by poisoning water and wanton jhum cultivation. “We have imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 for killing a rhino and Rs 2,000 for killing an elephant. Similar fines have also been imposed for killing other wild animals,” Kathar had said.
Fishing is totally banned during the breeding season. During the rest of the year, the Karbi practice of using poisonous herbs for fishing is prohibited.
It is mandatory for the villagers to plant trees after jhum cultivation. Farmers who own land in low-lying areas are barred from practising jhum cultivation. It is also prohibited in the areas where medicinal plants are found in abundance.
To increase compliance, the outfit has been holding meetings and publicly flogging those found guilty of violating its rules.