In a significant development, authorities in Assam’s Goalpara district launched a massive eviction drive on November 9, clearing nearly 1,000 bighas of encroached land from the Dahikata Reserved Forest area.
The operation began early at 5 AM, with government bulldozers and a heavy police presence moving into the forest zone as part of the state administration’s ongoing efforts to reclaim protected forest land from illegal settlers.
According to officials, a few evicted individuals attempted to disrupt the proceedings, but the situation was swiftly brought under control by police and district authorities.
During the operation, Abdul Hai, a leader of the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), was detained at the site for allegedly obstructing the eviction process.
District officials stated that several encroachers had vacated the land voluntarily following a recent announcement by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma regarding the eviction plan. However, the administration proceeded with the enforcement action to ensure complete clearance of the reserved forest area.
The Dahikata Reserved Forest has long faced challenges from illegal encroachments, with settlements gradually encroaching on protected zones. Saturday’s operation marks the latest in a series of eviction drives carried out by the Assam government to reclaim forest lands across the state. Authorities have not yet confirmed if similar eviction operations are planned in other districts where forest encroachment has been reported.
