Over 60 houses of 'illegal' settlers demolished in Sonitpur district

TEZPUR: Sonitpur district administration demolished over 60 houses of 'illegal' settlers from Bhara Singri-Chuti Pahar area under Thelamara PS and Barchala LAC in Sonitpur district. There are about 2,200 families in the area and out of them, only 250 families are legal Indian citizens while the remaining 1,950 families are 'illegal' settlers who managed to settle in the area in nexus with some unscrupulous people.

On August 5, the 'illegal' settlers attacked a rally which was being taken out to the historic Hara-Gouri temple by the Ram Sena, Bajrang Dal and Viswa Hindu Parishad to mark the Ram Mandir bhumi pujan programme at Ayodhya resulting in serious injuries to as many as 12 persons. Following the incident, the law-and-order situation worsened leading to clamping of curfew in the area. ADGP (Law & Order) GP Singh, who during that period visited the area to take stock of the situation, assured the public to take stern action against the 'illegal' settlers. Different organizations, including the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) and the Bajrang Dal along with the local indigenous people, demanded eviction of the illegal settlers.

Responding to the public demand, the district administration, with the help of Sonitpur Police, started the eviction drive and over 60 households of the illegal settlers were demolished. Officials sources said that this would be a continuous process and all the illegal settlers would be evicted.