Agartala: A social media post by Tipra Motha Party founder Pradyot Kishore Debbarman pertaining to alleged land allotment to a Bangladeshi national in a protected tribal area sparked massive outrage in Tripura. Debbarman claimed that such land allotments were taking place unabated across the state.
However, later it has been clarified by officials that the land in question falls under the category of “enemy property.”
Debbarman, also an MDC from Takarjala, had on Wednesday shared documents purportedly showing a settlement of 0.22 acres of land in Khupilang Mouza, Khupilang Tehsil, under Killa revenue circle in Udaipur Subdivision of Gomati district, to one Dilu Mia, son of Badshah Miah, a resident of Bangladesh. The land falls under the jurisdiction of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC).
The documents, according to Debbarman, clearly indicated a Bangladeshi address for the individual, who is also not a member of a Scheduled Tribe (ST) community, raising questions about the validity of the allotment in a protected tribal area.
“This would have triggered national outrage if it had taken place anywhere in mainland India. But because it’s happening in Tripura, in the Northeast, there is an eerie silence,” Debbarman wrote in his social media post, which was widely circulated. He further cautioned that such documentation could potentially be used to illegitimately obtain Indian identity documents.
He questioned the approval process, asking, “Will the Election Commission of India (ECI) take any action, given that the then Deputy Collector & Magistrate (DCM), Revenue Officer, and Tehsildar have all implicated themselves?” Debbarman also credited Purna Chandra Jamatia, Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the TTAADC, for providing the land documents.
However, Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Udaipur, Tridip Sarkar, clarified that the property is officially categorised as “enemy property.” This term refers to land left behind by nationals of Pakistan or Bangladesh who migrated during the partition or subsequent periods, and such properties are managed under the Enemy Property Act, 1968.
“We have a total of 250 such properties in the Udaipur subdivision. Hearings are underway to bring these properties under the custody of the Government of India through the Chief Custodian of Enemy Property,” Sarkar told EastMojo.
He added that the first round of hearing for the specific plot mentioned has already taken place, with the next scheduled for Monday. Sarkar affirmed that land records are available and the process is being carried out in accordance with legal procedures.
Legal experts have advised that public statements on sensitive issues involving enemy property should be made only after thorough verification, as these matters fall under a specific legal framework.
Ever since the political change of guard in Bangladesh, Tipra Motha Party had launched an intensive campaign against illegal Bangladeshi immigrants.
Recently, Debbarman said that he would urge the Election Commission of India for Bihar like Special Intensive Revision of voter list in Tripura.
Situation escalated to a point that rebel turned Tipra Motha MLA Ranjit Debbarma announced that his party would withdraw support from the government had issues flagged by them not been addressed.
However, Pradyot Kishore Debbarman rejected any such plans dubbing the MLA’s remarks as an expression of frustration brewing among the TMP leaders because of the slow progress of Tiprasa accord.
Meanwhile, the Tripura government has started the process of setting up a state-level Special Task Force (STF) to tackle illegal immigration, to be led by a Superintendent of Police (SP)-rank officer. The STF will oversee district-level units, focusing on identifying, documenting, and deporting individuals without valid legal status, said a senior police official.
A 15-member STF has already been formed in West Tripura, including the Deputy SP of the Special Branch and OCs of all police stations. They are tasked with collecting biometric data of suspected illegal immigrants and uploading it to the MHA’s Foreigners Identification Portal.
Similar STFs are being formed in the remaining districts. All district units will report to the state-level STF once it receives final approval from the Home Department, top sources in Tripura Police said.
Also Read | Protected in name only: The sad state of Northeast’s ‘Protected Areas’