Assam: Encroachers claim role in protecting Forest land from alleged Mizoram encroachment amid eviction drive

After the Brahmaputra Valley, the Assam government is set to carry out an eviction drive against illegal encroachers in the Barak Valley. The operation will begin from the Damshera area under the Gharmura Reserved Forest in Hailakandi district, according to official sources.

The district administration, in coordination with the Forest Department, has already issued eviction notices to 522 families who are allegedly residing illegally within the reserved forest area. Officials indicated that the eviction drive is likely to commence from the 16th of this month.

To ensure awareness, the administration has made repeated announcements using banners and public address systems, urging residents to vacate the forest land voluntarily before the start of the operation.

Unlike the strong protests witnessed during recent eviction drives in the Brahmaputra Valley, the situation in Hailakandi appears comparatively calm. Even before the official launch of the eviction drive, several residents have been seen dismantling their houses, relocating belongings, and leaving the area.

However, the issue has also sparked debate, as some encroachers have claimed that they have been living in the area for many years and have played a role in protecting the land from alleged encroachment by Mizoram. These claims have added a new dimension to the ongoing eviction process and have generated discussion at the local level.

Authorities have maintained that the eviction is necessary to protect forest land and will proceed as per law, while monitoring the situation closely to prevent any untoward incidents.

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