"Guwahati: The Gauhati High Court has issued an order halting the eviction drive scheduled for September 7 in Baghmari, Biswanath district, Assam, following a petition from residents facing eviction.Advertisment The court directed the Biswanath district administration to submit a comprehensive report by September 8, clarifying whether the disputed land is classified as Village Grazing Reserve (VGR). The eviction process has been paused until the report is submitted and reviewed by the court. The eviction drive, part of a broader initiative by the district administration to clear encroachments on government and reserve lands, targeted 433 families accused of illegally occupying approximately 265 bighas of VGR land in Baghmari. These families were issued notices to vacate the land within 15 days. The petitioners, however, claimed they have resided on the land for decades and sought legal protection to prevent their displacement. Village Grazing Reserves are designated for community livestock grazing, and any encroachments on such lands are prohibited under the law. It may be mentioned that over the past few months, a series of evictions have been taking place in Assam, with most of them being focused on areas with a sizable minority population. The eviction has also taken a political turn, with the opposition and various organisations accusing the BJP-led government of selective eviction targetting a particular community."
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