Sivasagar, Feb 5: ATASU, the Tai Ahom students' body, today brought out a massive demonstration against government inaction against illegal encroachers in Ahom era monuments and relics in Sivasagar district.

The protest meeting, presided over by the Sivasagar district president of the ATASU Akhil Ahom, was addressed by Basanta Gogoi, the president of the Central Committee led by him. Basanta Gogoi said that the 17th century natural zoo set up by Ahom Swargadeo Rudra Singha during 1696 to 1704 near Mankata Ali in Zerenga Pathar is being encroached on all sides threatening the avian population dependent on the water bodies in it.

It may be mentioned that Pohugarh attracts a large number of migratory aquatic species of birds every winter including graylag geese, glossy ibis, bar-headed. goose, pelicans, jakanas, moorhens and various egrets and storks.

Similarly, the students' body demanded that all encroachments around the Jamuna Canal be evicted urgently as the water level of the historic Sivasagar Borpukhuri has come down. The historic Jamuna Garkhaoi (canal) dug by Siva Singha's wife queen Modambika is encroached on all fronts right under the nose of the administration.

The Siva Doul Tirtha Jatri Niwas -cum-Business Complex built by the Siva Doul Development Committee is also constructed on the Jamuna canal besides the shopping complex, the Tai Ahom Sanskritik Vikash Kendra, part of the Sivasagar Commerce College buildings, and some individuals allegedly occupied Jamuna Canal flouting all government norms.

Basanta Gogoi alleged that parts of the historic Ranganath Doul and Jaymoti Doul in Jaysagar are occupied illegally by the local people.

Basanta Gogoi said that the Tai Ahoms have given the BJP government a month-long time to evict all encroaches from the Ahom era monuments failing which the students body threatened to convene the largest gathering of the community in Sivasagar towards the end of March to protest against the government.

The meeting was also addressed by MI Bora, president, Ujoni Asom Muslim Kalyan Parishad, Devajit Dutta, president Sangrami Yuva Chatra Parishad, Chitu Baruah of Jatiya Sangrami Sena, Pankaj Khound of Sangrami Sena, Asom and Partha Gogoi of ATASU and lent their voice in support of ATASU for protection of historical sites as the government often highlights the historic town's tourism potentials.