Guwahati, Aug 26: In a rare development, encroachers in Nagaon district have begun demolishing their own homes and shops to avoid a large-scale eviction drive scheduled for August 27.
Since morning, residents have been using JCBs to dismantle houses and commercial structures built illegally on government land.
The eviction notice, issued by the district administration, covers illegal settlements in Batadrava and Alitangani mouzas, including grazing reserves and designated market areas. To ensure law and order, a strong police contingent has been deployed, with flag marches conducted before the operation.
Nagaon Deputy Commissioner Devashish Sharma told Hub News:
“One month ago, we served notices to those occupying government land. They requested time to vacate, and we extended it—first by a month and then by another three days. From this morning, people have started voluntarily demolishing their own houses and shops. It is good that they realised their encroachment was illegal and are vacating the land themselves. A total of 56 families are involved in the Batadrava area.”
Sharma added that while the administration prefers voluntary compliance, eviction would be carried out if necessary:
“We don’t want to forcibly evict people, but if government land is illegally encroached, it is our duty to free it.”
For the first time in Assam, encroachers have taken the unusual step of pulling down their own structures ahead of an eviction drive. Police remain on the ground, but no untoward incidents have been reported so far.
The BJP-led state government has adopted a tough stance against illegal encroachment, freeing several bighas of government land across Assam in recent months.
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