Evictions in mphai Reserved Forest proves futile

<p>FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT<br />

DIGBOI, Aug 4: Hardly after 12 hours of massive eviction by the Digboi Forest Division carried out in association with the civil and police administration on Thursday morning in mphai Reserve Forest within the Upper Dehing Reserved Forest in Tinsukia District of upper Assam, the apprehended encroachers who were released on personnel bond after the eviction mysteriously returned to their respected evicted land for re occupations of the land.<br />

According to official sources, around six hundred and fifty houses were erected illegally by the encroachers&nbsp; in the heart of the said RF and along the banks of the mphai river bordering Assam &ndash;Aruchal in Tinsukia and Changlang District. These houses were&nbsp; demolished and hundreds of encroachers comprising male, female and children hailing from different communities including Mishing, Deori, tea-tribe, Nepalis etc who migrated from Sadiya, Dhemaji, Majuli etc after being hit by floods over a period of time, were apprehended.<br />

&ldquo;As soon as they were released on bond the same day, encroachers re-entered RF in the evening and we were left with no other altertives today then to re-arrest them and forward them to Court for further legal proceedings,&rdquo;&nbsp; informed&nbsp; the Ranger of the concerned Jagun Range this afternoon after fetching the apprehended females and children at Lekhapani Police Station.<br />

Surprisingly, while talking to the Sentinel, one of the apprehended women who claimed of settling in the RF in 2012 after paying Rs 500 as entry fees revealed that they were assured by their committee members that the Forest Minister on her recent visit to Jagun had promised of not initiating eviction for another 8 months for the reason not being disclosed yet.<br />

However, around hundred hectres of RFwas evicted on Thursday and six hundred fifty houses were demolished.</p>

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