Golaghat: The Assam government is set to launch one of its largest eviction operations in recent years, targeting alleged encroachments over more than 10,000 bighas (approximately 3,300 acres) of forest land in Golaghat district.
The drive, scheduled to begin Tuesday, is expected to impact at least 2,000 families residing in and around the Rengma Reserve Forest in the Sarupathar sub-division along the Assam-Nagaland border.
According to Forest Department officials, the land in question spans 30 villages where forest areas have reportedly been converted into agricultural land.
The authorities have divided the eviction zone into nine sectors to streamline the operation, and surveys have been ongoing to finalise the extent of encroachment.
District officials stated that eviction notices were served a week ago, prompting many families to begin vacating areas such as Chilanijan, Kherbari, and Dayalpur.
A significant number of those affected are said to hail from Assam’s Nagaon, Morigaon, and Sonitpur districts, with many belonging to the minority community.
To ensure smooth execution of the operation, a senior police officer from state headquarters has been deployed to oversee law and order in the region.
Security arrangements have been intensified, with CRPF personnel brought in to assist local police.
The upcoming eviction follows Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s visit to Uriamghat on July 25 to assess the situation.
He claimed that nearly 70 percent of the encroachers had already vacated voluntarily.
Sarma noted that those occupying the forest land include settlers from districts such as Cachar, Dhubri, Barpeta, Hojai, and even from West Bengal and Bihar.
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The state’s ongoing anti-encroachment efforts have seen over 1.29 lakh bighas (around 42,500 acres) cleared in the past four years.
However, Sarma recently said that close to 29 lakh bighas (over 9.5 lakh acres) remain under encroachment across Assam.
As tensions mount along the interstate boundary, the Nagaland government has issued an advisory to its bordering districts to remain alert and prevent any influx of displaced individuals during or after the eviction.
