KARBI ANGLONG: A massive two-day eviction drive in Bakaliaghat has cleared approximately 350 bighas of encroached land, affecting more than 600 families. The operation, which began on Tuesday morning, targeted illegal settlements on Village Grazing Reserve (VGR) and Professional Grazing Reserve (PGR) lands (Karbi Anglong eviction drive).
According to official reports, the drive resulted in the demolition of approximately 2,159 structures, including residential houses, three mosques, one church, and several commercial establishments. The district administration conducted the exercise with a heavy deployment of police personnel, forest officials, and bulldozers to maintain law and order.
The eviction follows directives from the Assam Government and the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC). Authorities stated that 15-day advance notices were issued to the residents, many of whom began vacating the area voluntarily before the bulldozers arrived.
Religious Structures and Local Grief
The operation has sparked significant distress among local residents. A namghar (prayer hall) belonging to the Srimanta Sankardev Society, established in 2002, was among the structures demolished. Members of the society expressed deep anguish, noting that they had previously submitted applications to preserve the site.
Humanitarian Concerns
Evicted residents, many of whom claim to have lived in the area for decades, are now facing a crisis of shelter. “We have lived here for a long time and now have nowhere to go,” one resident stated, questioning how they would survive the harsh winter conditions without alternative arrangements or a rehabilitation plan.
While the administration maintains that the drive is essential to reclaim government irrigation and grazing land, displaced families continue to appeal for state support.
Eviction Drive Begins in Karbi Anglong