DIPHU, March 5 - Continuing with the eviction of illegal Bangladeshi settlers from Lankaijan Reserve Forest, the Land Revenue and the Forest departments of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council aided by the police and the executive magistrate demolished more than 600 illegal structures on Monday. It may be recalled here that the Reserve Forest land is located within the general area of Lankaijan around 30 kilometres from the headquarter town of Diphu and around 35 kilometres from Bakulia town through an additional course which is approximately 60 kilometres from Diphu.
The whole area has been allegedly encroached upon by doubtful Bangladeshi nationals who are utilising the occupied land for agriculture. On an average, each family has occupied more than 40 bighas of land void of any legal document. The eviction began on Saturday last. About 1200 acres of land were cleared on Mondayh which is almost 80% of the occupied land. According to the evicted persons, they came to Lankaijan from Dhubri, Chhaygaon, Moirabari and Nagaon and have settled there by paying the local village headman. However, they could not produce any document in support of their claim.
The eviction which began around 7 am on Monday engaged eight excavators and around 500 Forest officials. The operation continued up to Pampi Nala which is the official border between the two districts of Hojai and Karbi Anglong. With the backing of a strong detinue of 500 police and paramilitary personnel, the district administration could demolish around 600 houses in addition to 35 constructions on Saturday out of the demarcated 1016 houses. Thousands of evicted persons who could not produce any legal document alleged that the drive is politically motivated. Bizarrely a section also claimed that they have registered their names in the NRC on the basis of their occupied land.
�In Monday�s operation, we have officially demolished 554 houses without any resistance from the encroachers. The exact extent of land cleared is yet to be assessed. However, it�s an enormous proportion of area. In order to prevent any further intrusion, a fixed police picket has been positioned. Besides that, constant police patrolling will ensure any breach of peace in the area,� SP Gaurav Upadhyay told this correspondent over phone.
�Eviction will continue until the whole land is cleared from the illegal occupiers. The entire part officially belongs to Karbi Anglong Autonomous district and we are duty bound to protect our land,� Amarsing Tisso, Executive Member in charge of Land Revenue department, Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council said.
