Amid heightened political activity in Assam ahead of the Assembly elections, the state government on Monday carried out an eviction drive in the Sootea area of Biswanath district to clear alleged encroachments on Village Grazing Reserve (VGR) land.
As per reports, the operation was conducted by the Biswanath district administration in three locations, including Milanpur, Soraijonia, and Solahola. Reportedly, 65 families were illegally occupying the reserve land.
According to officials, the drive covered around 70 to 75 bighas of land. Of the families affected, 34 were from Milanpur, 16 from Soraijonia and 15 from Solahola.
Security arrangements were tightened to ensure the operation proceeded without disruption, with around 200 personnel from the police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) deployed in the area.
Heavy machinery, including bulldozers and excavators, was used to demolish structures built on the reserve land. Officials said that most of the families had vacated the land before the eviction drive began.
The Circle Officer of Naduar said, “People are cooperating with us. Before the eviction started, they had already moved out from the sites.”
Also Read: Assam eviction drive in Biswanath displaces 309 families
The latest drive follows a major eviction exercise carried out by the district administration in Baghmari on December 25 last year. That operation targeted alleged encroachments on government land and was conducted under tight security, with more than 17 bulldozers and several excavators deployed.
Authorities had issued notices in August to 732 families accused of occupying 265 bighas of VGR land under plot numbers 203 and 189.
