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Time of India

Eviction at Uriamghat today, state aims to clear 11k bighas

1 2 Guwahati: Over 100 bulldozers, accompanied by approximately 1,500 police and forest personnel, are set to commence the demolition of houses built on encroached land in Rengma Reserve Forest of Golaghat district from Tuesday morning. This action will be one of the largest eviction drives in Assam, as the state govt aims to clear 11,000 bighas (around 1,500 hectares) of encroached forest land close to the Nagaland border. On the eve of the drive, which has raised concerns in neighbouring Nagaland over a potential influx of encroachers, the local administration in Golaghat carried out widespread announcements via miking, urging the remaining encroacher families to vacate the area before any conflicting situation arises. Sarupathar MLA Biswajit Phukan, overseeing the operation alongside senior officials from the administration, forest department, and police, said, "Our target is to clear the entire 11,000 bighas of encroached land. There are about 2,500 households here in encroached forest areas with a population of not less than 12,000." He added that roughly 950 families have fully shifted from the encroached forest lands at Uriamghat, taking their belongings and even dismantling their own houses for materials. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is it better to shower in the morning or at night? Here's what a microbiologist says CNA Read More Undo The remaining families have demolished around 50% of their houses, relocating women and children, while one or two persons per household remain on the land to observe the demolition. Madhupur, Dayalpur, Bidyapur, Kherbari and Dolonipathar are among the nine villages that received eviction notices recently. Encroacher families were given a week to evacuate. According to Phukan, the encroachers are primarily 'miyas', a term frequently used in Assam for migrant Muslim families of Bangladesh/East Pakistan origin. Several SP rank and DFO rank officers have been stationed at Uriamghat, sources said. CRPF will remain stationed as a neutral force in Uriamghat at the time of the operation. The Nagaland govt has issued an advisory directing district authorities to maintain vigilance and prevent entry of evicted people from Assam. Over the past week, more than 90% of residents from the nine affected villages have vacated the Rengma Reserve Forest, mostly moving towards their original homes in central Assam's Nagaon and Morigaon districts. Last week, CM Himanta Biswa Sarma visited the area to assess the situation. His visit to Uriamghat spurred officials into action, working at an accelerated pace to execute the eviction. For Sarma, removing the encroachments at Uriamghat is viewed as crucial to prevent the possibility of these 'miya Muslim' families moving into upper Assam, where indigenous tribes and communities still play a decisive role, unlike in lower Assam.