DIPHU, March 8 - Eviction operations in Lankaijan Reserve Forest which resumed this morning with the active cooperation of the Hojai and Karbi Anglong administration had to be suspended after a strong mob of around 3000 �illegal� settlers attacked the demolition squad at around 10.30 am at the disputed site. According to the magistrate on duty, Norsing Bey, the police had to baton charge the frenzied mob to tackle the situation. The administrations of both the districts have confirmed that no one has been injured. Security forces involved in the operation later recovered a large quantity of blunt weapons from the troubled site.
Amid the unruly situation, approximately 10 illegal constructions were razed today. Later, top administrative officials of both the districts held a discussion over the situation. But they failed to find any way out. On the other hand, the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council authority has expressed its unyielding stand for recovering the occupied land from the encroachers.
In today�s eviction operation, officials and staff of the Land Revenue department, Forest department of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, police, paramilitary and executive magistrate were involved.
The whole government revenue land has been allegedly occupied by doubtful Bangladeshi nationals who are utilising it for agricultural purposes. The vast reserve forest area is in the border of Karbi Anglong autonomous district contiguous to Hojai district.
�Eviction will go on and the land which has been illegally occupied will be cleared and in this matter I will like to thank the Hojai administration and the police for extending their support. The resistance put up by the illegal settlers was expected, but the police and administration tackled the situation most efficiently,� Amarsing Tisso, Executive Member in charge of Land Revenue department, Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council who was involved in the whole exercise said.
