Assam government is set to initiate one of its largest eviction operations in Uriamghat on the Assam-Nagaland border to evict alleged minority settlers from the 13,921-hectare land of Rengma Reserve Forest.
Over 10,000 people are to be cleared from the encroached forest land. The state government has deployed more than 1,000 security personnel, along with heavy machinery such as excavators and bulldozers, to carry out the operation. While the forest authority claims that around 10,958 hectares have been encroached, many of the affected settlers—including members of the so-called ‘Miya Muslim’ community—remain in the area.
The Assam government has initiated discussions with Nagaland to ensure coordination and prevent tensions ahead of the large-scale eviction drive in Uriamghat, a sensitive stretch along the Assam–Nagaland border in Golaghat district. The eviction, scheduled to begin on July 29, targets over 11,000 bighas of land within the Rengma Reserve Forest, allegedly encroached by settlers—many of whom are minority Muslim families suspected to be undocumented immigrants or migrants from within Assam and neighbouring states.
To avoid misunderstandings, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma acknowledged Nagaland’s cooperation and stressed that the operation will be carried out peacefully. In response to fears of a potential spillover of evicted persons, the Nagaland government issued an advisory on July 21 directing all deputy commissioners to maintain strict vigilance and prevent any illegal influx. Security measures have been stepped up across the border, including mobile checkpoints and ILP (Inner Line Permit) verifications.
A total of 10,959 bighas of land is to be cleared, for which more than 2,000 police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed. Around 900 encroachers have already left the area, with about 1,400 trucks used for relocation. However, more than 1,000 encroachers are still occupying the forest land.
On July 25, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma visited the Rengma Reserve Forest in Uriamghat, Golaghat district. “In Uriamghat, I personally reviewed the extent of encroachment of forest land and how the forest has been destroyed and converted into commercial plantations,” CM Sarma stated in an X post.
Local MLA Biswajit Phukan expressed hope that the eviction drive would be completed peacefully. “We have a strong CM, and under the leadership of CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, the indigenous people of Assam will be safe in every corner of the state,” stated the BJP MLA from Sarupathar constituency.
-Various sources