Guwahati: After Dhubri, the Assam government is all set to carry out a massive eviction drive in Paikan reserve forest in Goalpara district. The operation, one of the largest in recent times in Assam’s Forest areas, aims to clear more than 140 hectares of encroached land—following a green signal from the Gauhati High Court.
Thousands of Bangladeshi origin Muslim families have encroached the Paikan reserve forest during the Congress regime in the state. The Guwahati High Court’s ruling on July 10, which dismissed a petition filed by 130 encroacher families seeking a stay, has paved the way for the district administration and Forest Department to proceed with the operation.
After the notice from the state government, hundreds of families in the affected areas have already begun packing, but the mood on the ground is grim. But some political parties and Muslim organisations are instigating the encroaching families not to vacate the reserve forest immediately. Such instigation led to a confrontation between security forces and encroachers in Bilasipara in Dhubri during the eviction on July 7.
While the Gauhati High Court upheld the government’s right to reclaim forest land, it also directed the authorities to provide humanitarian support, including temporary shelter and food arrangements for those displaced. In line with this directive, officials said evicted families are being offered ₹50,000 in financial aid as part of the rehabilitation measures.
In the run-up to the eviction, joint teams from the Forest Department and Assam Police increased their presence across the villages. Public warnings were issued via loudspeakers, and residents were repeatedly urged to leave voluntarily before the July 11 deadline. “The countdown had started. We hoped they would go on their own. Many did. But many are still here,” a forest official told us.
Speaking to the media, the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Goalpara said: “A total of 140 hectares of land will be cleared in this phase. The land is ecologically sensitive and part of a larger effort to restore balance to the forest. Notices have already been served and public announcements made.”
The Paikan Reserve Forest, spread across 711 hectares, is home to a delicate ecosystem that forest officials say has been steadily degraded due to unauthorized human settlements. The affected area, amounting to nearly 20% of the reserve, is considered crucial for local wildlife and environmental stability.
Heavy security deployment
Even though the administration is looking for a peaceful eviction drive, seeing the resistance faced in Dhubri they are not taking any chances. A large contingent of forest and police personnel—including Forest Battalion units, range officers, and district administration teams—has been deployed. Their mission is not just to remove illegal structures, but to ensure the drive proceeds peacefully and without violence.
“We are here to carry out the court’s order. But we are also humans. We don’t want to hurt anyone. Our teams are trained to be sensitive, especially around women and children,” said a senior police officer posted in the area.
As the sun rises on July 12, bulldozers and eviction teams will begin clearing what has, for many, been home for decades. CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said that his government will reclaim every inch of government and forest land encroached by illegal settlers.
