Massive eviction drive in Assam to clear 1200 bighas, 1000 families being evicted

Out of 1200 bighas of land, about 75% of the encroached areas have already been cleared

A massive eviction drive is being undertaken by the Nagaon district administration in Assam to clear 1200 bighas of government land of alleged encroachment. The encroachment drive is being conducted in four villages close to Batadroba, the birthplace of Vaishnav saint Srimanta Sankardeva. At least 1000 families are being displaced in the eviction drive. These families were given vacation notices in October, officials said.

Over 600 security personnel have been deployed in the Santijan bazaar area to avoid any untoward incident during the eviction drive. The drive has been peaceful so far. The drive will be carried out at Hai Dubi, Jamai Basti after Shanti Jan Bazar.

About 75% of the encroached areas have been cleared as of now, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) (Law and Order) GP Singh said.

Speaking to the media, GP Singh said that police had received information from the district administration that the lands had been illegally encroached upon by people. As per the district administration’s directive, police teams had been deployed in the affected areas, and today the district administration is conducting an eviction drive, with approximately 75% of the encroached areas having been cleared as of now.

“From December 14 to 18, police force was deployed in the area, and during this time, over 60% of the inhabitants dismantled their houses, shops, and other structures and moved out,” GP Singh added.

The largest eviction drive is underway amid heavy security arrangements that have been made in the area to avoid any untoward incidents.

The eviction drive has been publicly announced by the administration, and inhabitants have been asked to leave the area after gathering their goods.

Over the next few days, the eviction drive will continue in the areas under the Dhing revenue circle.

Meanwhile, locals of the area welcomed the move and supported the district administration’s decision to clear the encroached land.

This is the second such large-scale eviction drive; the first happened in the Dhalpur area of the Darrang district in September of 2021, resulting in violence that left two people dead and more than 20 others injured.

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