Assam Launches Massive Eviction Drive to Reclaim 3,600 Acres in Rengma Reserve Forest

Golaghat: The state government on Tuesday began a massive eviction drive to reclaim over 3,600 acres of forest land in the Rengma Reserve Forest area of Uriamghat, located along the sensitive Assam-Nagaland border in the Sarupathar sub-division. The operation, led by the Golaghat district administration and the forest department, targets nearly 11,000 bighas of encroached land, affecting approximately 1,500 families who were earlier served eviction notices. Authorities confirmed that around 2,000 families were residing in the area, of whom 1,500 were deemed illegal settlers, while the rest possess valid Forest Rights Committee (FRC) certificates.

The first phase of the eviction began on Tuesday morning in Vidyapur Bazar, with a heavy presence of police and forest personnel. Authorities said the operation will gradually extend to residential areas, targeting 2,648 illegal structures spread across 12 villages, including: Sonaribil Top, No. 2 Pithaghat, No. 2 & No. 3 Dayalpur, Dalanpathar, Kherbari, Vidyapur & Vidyapur Bazar, No. 2 Madhupur, Anandpur, Rajapukhuri, and Gelajan

The state has deployed over 2,000 Assam Police personnel and 500 forest protection staff. In addition, more than 100 excavators and Pokeland machines have been brought in for demolition work, along with security forces and vehicles from Golaghat, Merapani, Sivasagar, and Tinsukia. Senior officers, including Additional Superintendents of Police (ASPs), Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs), and Assistant Commissioners, are stationed on-site to supervise and coordinate the multi-agency operation. A senior official from the district administration stated, “The eviction is being carried out strictly in accordance with the law to preserve the ecological integrity of this protected forest area.”

According to local reports, a large proportion of the evicted families belong to the Muslim community, while those with FRC certificates are largely from Bodo, Nepali, and other indigenous communities. However, officials have not confirmed any community-based distinctions, asserting that only verified legal status and documentation have guided the eviction process. Officials further noted that around 80% of the families served notices have already vacated voluntarily in recent days. “We are currently demolishing abandoned structures only,” said a senior district officer.

The state government has maintained that the drive is part of a broader initiative to reclaim encroached forest lands, prevent further degradation, and uphold forest conservation laws. The operation aligns with existing legal provisions, including the Assam Forest Regulation, and is seen as a precedent-setting move in forest governance and environmental protection in the state.