SILCHAR: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken up the case of land-grabbing, diversion of forest land on Patharia Reserve Forest, pushing about 300 families of forest dwellers on the brink of starvation, besides rendering them homeless. The human rights watchdog of the nation registered the case in the matter as vide no 99/3/10/2012 on a complaint filed by the Barak Human Rights Protection Committee (BHRPC) after it conducted a fact finding study of the situation. Along with the NHRC, the BHRPC also wrote to other authorities concerned including the Prime Minister, Chief Minister of Assam, Union Forest and Environment Minister as well. Neharul Ahmed Mazumder, secretary general of BHRPC, said that around 300 families of traditional forest dwellers have been forcibly deprived of their sources of livelihood and now living under the shadow of eviction from their hearths and homes by some businessmen allegedly in connivance with the local politician and Minister of Border Area Development in the Cabinet of Tarun Gogoi, Siddeque Ahmed. The accused persons grabbed the land measuring approximately 130 hectares or 330 acres reportedly for rubber plantation in Pecharpar, Satkorgul, Mokkergul, Bhitorgul and other villages where the families of forest dwellers have been living for generations, depending on the forest produces for livelihood. The BHPRC found it a prima facie a case of diversion of forest land for rubber plantation as well as a case of criminal trespass and taking illegal possession of land held by the department of forest in Patharia Reserve Forest and the villagers of Pecharpar under titles of farag or inherited from the zamindars . The Silchar based rights group contended that the activities are in flagrant violations of the Forest Conservation Act of 1980. It further contended that the people who have been living in and holding the forest land for generations are protected under the Forest Rights Act of 2006. It is also alleged that the criminal activities against the villagers with the alleged effort of the minister constitute violations of fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution of India and human rights enshrined in International Human Rights instrument to which India is a State party. The BHPRC demanded of the authorities immediate halt to the felling of the trees and destruction of vegetables and other crops grown by the villagers, take urgent measure to restore possession of land to the villagers, provide them with adequate compensation, cause investigation by the CBI into the alleged crimes and involvement of the Minister, Siddeque Ahmed. The BHPRC at the same time called for recognition of the rights of traditional forest dwellers under the relevant law and to settle the khas land that are possessed by them for generations as well as to take all other measures necessary to ensure full enjoyment of the rights to life with dignity and grace.