Panchayat Orders Eviction of ‘Unverified’ Migrants in Fatehgarh Sahib Village

A fresh flashpoint has emerged in Lakhanpur Garchan Patti, a village under the Khamano block of Fatehgarh Sahib, where the village panchayat has passed a resolution giving migrant families one week to leave. The directive targets nearly 200 migrants, including women, children, and elderly persons, allegedly squatting on Forest Department land without valid identification.

 

Villagers claimed that the families have been residing in makeshift shelters for the past two-three years, yet no one has produced ID documents or disclosed their origin. “We’ve asked them many times where they’re from, but we get no answers,” said a local resident. “Their presence raises concerns — some appear intoxicated, and thefts have increased,” he added.

 

With growing fears over law and order, locals said that the situation has become untenable. “There are rising worries about drugs and petty crimes,” said another villager, adding, “We don’t know who they are or what they’re doing here.”

 

Citing security and legal concerns, the panchayat has issued a one-week ultimatum for the migrants to vacate the area. In parallel, villagers have appealed to the District Administration to verify identities and initiate legal action against anyone found staying illegally.

 

While the Forest Department is yet to respond, officials said that they are aware of the situation and are monitoring it. The episode added to growing tensions in rural Punjab over unchecked migration and land encroachment.