Railways carry out massive eviction drive in Sarupathar, over 17 families evicted

A Correspondent

SARUPATHAR: The Railways on Sunday conducted an eviction drive in Sarupathar under Golaghat district and cleared the numerous illegal structures, including residences. As many as 17 families were evicted during the drive. The drive was jointly conducted by the Railways and the administration of the Dhansiri subdivision.

Meanwhile, the evicted families and noted citizens of Sarupathar town requested the subdivision administration and the Railway authorities on Sunday to halt the eviction drive for one week as the encroachers ‘promised to move away on their own and at their own cost within one week’. On the other hand, the Railway officials informed that the illegal structures were evicted as part of their mission to curb anti-social activities in the area. “We have evicted illegal constructions in the land belonging to Indian Railways,” said an official.

A family from the evicted area, identified as Mohini Dey’s family, had brought the stay order for one week which was provided by the District Court of Golaghat and the rest of the 17 out of 18 evicted families alleged that the Railway authorities were supporting them to stay on Railway property because Mohini Dey was a former Railway staff and he served as porter in the Indian Railways.

Meanwhile, while talking to this correspondent, the daughter-in-law of Mohini Dey also promised to move away on their own and at their own cost within one week.

“The people who have been living illegally on Railway land in Sarupathar town of Golaghat district compelled the Railways and subdivision administration authorities to halt the eviction drive on Sunday morning by claiming that they need one more week to move away on their own and at their own cost. Hence the Railway authorities could not complete the eviction drive and had to halt the same for a week,” said a Railway official.

The authorities said, “We had already served an eviction notice nearly two years back to vacate the Railway land. But the encroachers have failed to respond to our repeated pleas.” The Border magistrate of Dhansiri subdivision, Pranjit Kumar Dev and jawans of Railway Police Force (RPF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and local police were present during the eviction drive.

Also read: Eviction Drive on illegally occupied Railway Lands in Golaghat