The Assam government has completed a major eviction drive inside the Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuary to remove what officials described as illegal occupation of forest land. The two-day operation, which began on January 5 and ended on January 6, cleared around 6,200 bighas of land. This is equal to nearly 830 hectares. According to officials, about 710 families were affected by the eviction. The eviction took place in areas falling under the Sonitpur and Nagaon districts. Sonitpur Deputy Commissioner Ananda Kumar Das said that these families had been living inside forest land that forms part of a protected wildlife sanctuary. He said the administration had managed to clear all such occupied areas during the two-day exercise. Officials also said that nearly 40 per cent of the encroached land had already been freed earlier, and the latest drive focused on clearing the remaining areas.
The operation covered several locations under the Tezpur Sadar and Dhekiajuli revenue circles. These included Jamuktol, Arimari, Siyalichar, Baghetapu, Galatidubi, Lathimari, Kundulichar, Purba Dubramari and Batulichar. Heavy machinery, including 36 excavators and 60 tractors, was used to dismantle structures and level the cleared land. More than 300 police personnel were deployed to maintain law and order during the operation. Officials said that many of the affected families had built homes and started farming activities inside the sanctuary. Some residents reportedly dismantled their homes and left on their own before the administration arrived. Others requested more time to move, saying that the winter cold and crop-harvesting season made the situation difficult. However, the officials said the administration refused to stop the drive, noting that forest land cannot be used for settlement or cultivation.
Sonitpur Senior Superintendent of Police Barun Purakayastha said the eviction was carried out peacefully and there were no reports of violence or clashes. He added that security forces were present throughout the operation to avoid any disturbance.This is not the first major eviction drive in Burhachapori area. In February last year, the state government had cleared around 2,099 hectares of land in and around the sanctuary. That earlier operation had affected nearly 12,800 people. However, in July last year, one person was killed and several others were injured when some alleged encroachers reportedly tried to re-enter the cleared land and clashed with forest guards.The Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuary is spread over 44.06 square kilometres along the southern bank of the Brahmaputra River. It lies about 180 kilometres east of Guwahati and around 40 kilometres from Tezpur. The sanctuary forms part of the Laokhowa–Burhachapori ecosystem and also serves as a buffer area for the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve.