Guwahati: Hundreds of police personnel were deployed in Nagaon ahead of one of the biggest eviction drives to be carried out by the state govt on Monday.
However, hundreds of encroacher families have left the place, dismantling their houses after the deployment of massive security personnel. The administration publicly announced the eviction drive and asked the illegal occupants to leave the area after taking their belongings.
Following eviction drives, encroacher families have been seen in panic. “Administration has thrown us over the edge. We have lived here since 1974–1975, but where will we go if we are kicked out? There is no place available for us to live in. I urged the Chief Minister to permit us another place to stay, otherwise, I won’t leave this land even after I pass away,” said a villager.
“I’m worried of where to go with my children and worried about their academics. I urged CM to assist us”, another villager said.
On the other hand, All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) leader Aminul Islam, a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Dhing said, “Eviction drives will be discussed tomorrow with our committee group. We’re taking this to the Supreme Court. I pleaded to the chief minister to wait a while, and if it’s possible, we’re even prepared to meet him. We will soon appeal this in Mission Basundhara 2.0.”
Meanwhile, the eviction drive will be carried out in and around Batadrava Than from December 19, Monday and is likely to continue for several days, Nagaon Superintendent of Police Leena Doley said. The security personnel marched into the area on Saturday morning.
The administration is making the encroachers leave the place to avoid any untoward incident during the eviction drive. A top police official said, “We are ready for a massive eviction drive. We, however, will try our best to do everything peacefully.”
“All necessary formalities have been completed. We conducted a flag march in the area on Wednesday night,” she added.
According to sources, people have encroached upon around 1,200 bighas of land in the Bhumuraguri Lalungaon, Haidubi, Kobaikata Xatra, etc., areas in the Nagaon district. The district administration has planned to clear 250 bighas of land in the first phase of the eviction drive. According to sources, the massive eviction drive may start anytime in the next 24 hours.
Sources in Nagaon district administration claimed that notices were served already to around 1,000 alleged encroacher families during October, asking them to vacate the land.
Sources added that over 700 police and paramilitary personnel were deployed in the greater Batadrava area and mobilisation of forces has been taking place for the last 3-4 days.
Recently, an interim report by a Commission set up by the state government to inspect allegations of encroachments in Satra land revealed that over 7500 bighas of land belonging to Satras (Vaishnavite monasteries) in the state were under illegal encroachment.
The Assam government is all set to carry out a major eviction drive on Monday in 1,200 bighas (nearly 397 acres) of land from alleged encroachment in Nagaon district.
