Bulldozers & cops reach Uriamghat as govt looks to clear reserve forest land
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Guwahati: Assam's next major eviction operation slated in Uriamghat, situated along the Assam-Nagaland border, is poised to stir up the tranquillity of the region this week as bulldozers have begun entering the region.
Authorities said vast forest expanses have been degraded by encroachers over the years, potentially breaching further into upper Assam districts.
More than 80 to 90% of encroachers, a significant number of whom identify as 'Miya Muslims' (a term referring to migrant Muslims of Bangladesh/East Pakistan origin), have vacated their homes in Uriamghat's Rengma Reserve Forest, from where over 10,000 people will be evicted.
Security was intensified in the region on Sunday, with numerous police and security personnel deployed and bulldozers placed in school fields.
Only a handful of families remain, camping close to the occupied lands until the demolition of their houses is executed.
Sarupathar MLA Biswajit Phukan said the large-scale eviction could commence as early as Tuesday. "29th July, 2025 will be an important and historic day for Sarupathar," Phukan wrote on social media, thanking CM Sarma and highlighting the urgency of the situation.
As opposition parties contemplate criticising the govt for the scale of the forthcoming operation, Assam information and public relations minister Pijush Hazarika on Sunday criticised opposition leaders, including Assam PCC president Gaurav Gogoi, alleging that they have supported encroachers and doubtful citizens. "They hobnob with encroachers and doubtful citizens. Our govt has acted against those people who have unjustly grabbed lands.
Govt has not touched lands which have pattas (land deeds)," Hazarika said.
He maintained that the decision on whether encroachers are Indian citizens or foreigners lies with the courts, but underlined that the govt would not tolerate encroachment of govt land. "Those who back the encroachers are not satisfied at doubtful citizens taking over lower and central Assam. People like Gaurav Gogoi will find peace only when upper Assam is also encroached upon," Hazarika said, adding that govt would not provide compensation or land to.
According to govt data, out of the total 13,921 hectares of forest reserve at Rengma in Golaghat district, 10,958 hectares have been encroached. Families living there said they settlement in the area five decades ago from various central Assam districts and later from the Barak Valley region, with a few coming from Bihar.
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