9,000 betel leaf plants destroyed in Kulaura

More than 9,000 betel leaf plants were allegedly felled overnight at a Khasi settlement in Kulaura, causing extensive damage to the livelihoods of nine families.

The incident occurred on the night of Wednesday, September 30, at Nursery Khasia Punji, located on a hillock in Karmadha Union of Kulaura Upazila.

According to police and local sources, betel leaf plants were cut down from the jhum plots of Johnny Potam, Likin Khongpda, Paila Potam, Nasrin Potam, Nistar Patuat, Shiuli Azim, Tuni Azim, Diman Potam and Masar Tongper, all residents of Nursery Khasia Punji.

Plants were reportedly destroyed in two of Nasrin Potam’s jhum plots.
Expressing her indignation, Nasrin Potam said, “I do not know who committed this heinous act. A local group may have deliberately carried out this attack to destroy our livelihood. We work in our jhum fields throughout the day, but miscreants took advantage of the darkness to cut down our betel leaf plants.”

Johnny Potam, headman of Nursery Punji, said the residents were simple, peace-loving people who depended on betel leaf cultivation for their livelihoods.

“It takes four to five years of care before a plant starts producing leaves. In an instant, the livelihoods of nine families in the Punji were destroyed by the machete blows of miscreants. We are living in great fear,” he said.

“These betel leaf plants are our only source of income. We urge the administration to investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice,” he added.

Flora Babli Talang, general secretary of Kubraj, an inter-Punji development organisation in Kulaura, said the incident was part of a continuing pattern of harassment faced by Khasi people.

“We do not know when the harassment of the Khasia people will end. One after another, betel leaf plants-the Khasias’ sole means of livelihood-are being cut down. Who will guarantee our livelihood security? Why are the livelihoods of indigenous people living in Khasia punjis repeatedly being attacked?” she said.

She said the incident had caused extensive damage to nine families of Nursery Punji, with more than 9,000 betel leaf plants being cut down.

She added that residents of the Punji were currently harvesting leaves from the damaged plants and planned to file a written complaint with the police station.

Sheikh Jahirul Islam Munna, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Kulaura Police Station, said police visited the scene after receiving information and confirmed that the betel leaf plants had been cut down.
“Legal action will be taken against those involved following an investigation,” he said.