Authorities in Assam’s Barak Valley began a large-scale eviction drive to clear encroachments from the Gharmura Inner Line Reserved Forest in Hailakandi district.
Termed as one of the largest eviction drives in the Barak Valley, the operations target 522 families.
Reportedly, the eviction drive operation commenced around 7 am in the Damchhera area and is being jointly conducted by the district administration and the Forest Department.
Officials said the drive will continue until February 4 as part of ongoing efforts to reclaim protected forest land and prevent further illegal occupation.
Further, security has been strengthened with over 1500 personnel, along with nearly 200 Forest Department officials stationed on the ground to maintain law and order throughout the operation.
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On the other hand, reports say that the Forest Department has deployed 35 JCB machines, while security arrangements have been significantly tightened.
The eviction zone has been divided into seven sectors to make the process more organized and efficient.
According to Hailakandi Divisional Forest Officer Akhil Dutta, eviction activities were carried out on Monday in Sectors 5, 6, and 7. The remaining sectors are scheduled to be addressed in a phased manner over the next two days, ensuring that the process proceeds systematically and with minimal disruption.
Officials highlighted that eviction notices had been issued to residents nearly two months ago. Following these notifications, a significant number of families chose to vacate the land voluntarily.
This cooperation from the residents allowed authorities to conduct the initial phase of the eviction drive smoothly, with very little resistance or conflict.
The administration has emphasized that the primary objective of the eviction is to protect forest land and restore ecological balance.
By removing illegal settlements, authorities aim to ensure that reserved forest areas remain preserved and free from unauthorized occupation.
