Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday raised serious concerns about rampant encroachment of government and forest lands across the state, suggesting that some individuals claiming to be from Bihar and West Bengal may in fact be illegal infiltrators from across the international border.Sarma, who was visiting eviction sites in Uriamghat under Golaghat district, pointed to a worrying trend discovered during a detailed review of the identities of those occupying large swathes of protected and government-owned land. “When we went through the list of encroachers, we found that many have claimed to be from Bihar and West Bengal. But we suspect that some of them could be from across the border,” he told reporters, cautiously refraining from naming any specific country. The Chief Minister said the government will share the names and addresses of the encroachers with the respective state authorities to verify their background. “If they are genuine residents of those states, we have no issue. But if they are not, it becomes a larger matter of concern,” he stressed.
The Chief Minister’s visit to Uriamghat comes amid a fresh eviction drive in the region, where hundreds of bighas of land—forest, government, and protected grazing (PGR/VGR) lands—have reportedly been encroached upon. Sarma confirmed that eviction notices have already been served in both Uriamghat and nearby Neghribil, and the administration is moving ahead in a phased manner.“Seventy percent of the encroachers have already vacated voluntarily. We expect the rest to comply soon. The government cannot be a mute spectator,” he said.Residents of the area reportedly welcomed the eviction move, saying the settlements had turned into hubs of illicit activities, including drug abuse and theft. “People have told us how these encroachments became breeding grounds for unlawful acts. Now, there is an opportunity to rebuild the area with a positive outlook,” Sarma added, urging locals to take part in economic and social development initiatives once the land is cleared.In a significant breakthrough, two individuals suspected to be involved in aiding and organising the encroachments have been arrested. While their identities have not been publicly disclosed, officials believe they played a key role in facilitating the illegal occupation of land.
Sarma reiterated that the state government remains committed to conducting more eviction drives across Assam, including in areas where land belonging to religious institutions like Satras, forest reserves, and grazing areas has been encroached upon. “Our approach is legal and calibrated. We involve legal experts in every operation and act only in areas where our claims are solid,” he explained.Responding to a question on possible interstate spillovers, Sarma clarified that the Nagaland government has expressed only one concern—that evicted individuals from Assam should not cross over and settle in Nagaland. “Whenever I have spoken to them, they have extended full cooperation,” he said.Sarma also highlighted the growing public support for the government’s crackdown on encroachment. “People from various districts have written to me on social media, asking for similar eviction drives in their own areas. This shows that the public understands the problem and is willing to help.”The Chief Minister encouraged people to remain alert and proactive to prevent fresh cases of encroachment. “We have to be vigilant. No new encroachment should be allowed to take root. It’s a shared responsibility,” he said.The scale of the encroachment problem in Assam, Sarma said, is staggering. While the government has already cleared 1.29 lakh bighas of land over the past four years, nearly 29 lakh bighas remain illegally occupied. The Chief Minister alleged that many of these lands are held by individuals he referred to as “illegal Bangladeshis and doubtful citizens.”