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Assam’s Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Friday that his government will verify claims from encroachers who claim to be from states like Bihar and West Bengal. Sarma said that when they reviewed the list of encroachers, they found people not just from Assam but also from other districts within the state, as well as from Bihar and West Bengal.
Sarma stated during a press briefing in Uriamghat, Golaghat district, “We found that these individuals are not merely from Assam. We discovered names from Cachar, Sribhumi, Dhubri, Hojai, Nagaon, Morigaon, and even from Bihar and West Bengal.” He added, “They claim to be from Bihar, but they might be from across the border.”
The Chief Minister said that details such as names, addresses, and other information will be collected from these individuals and shared with local authorities in their claimed places of origin for verification. If they are genuine residents, there is no issue; however, if they are not permanent residents, local authorities can take steps.
Sarma mentioned that encroachers in Uriamghat were found to have possession of hundreds of bighas (a unit of land measurement) of forest land and that the government cannot remain a passive spectator. “We need to take necessary actions,” he said, adding, “We seek cooperation from people.”
Locals informed Sarma that illegal activities like drug use and thefts were widespread in encroached areas, leading to many negative occurrences. Sarma suggested that once these lands are cleared, local youths could engage in business using the available resources.
About 70 percent of the encroachers have already left the area, and the remaining will also vacate before the anti-eviction drive is launched as per law. Two suspected key figures behind the encroachments have been arrested, and notices for eviction have been served in the Neghribil area.
Sarma noted that residents from various parts of the state had contacted him via social media over the past few days to urge action against encroachments in their respective areas. He assured cooperation with Nagaland, which borders Uriamghat, stating, “The only concern is that evicted people should not enter our state.” Sarma emphasized the need for vigilance to prevent new illegal grabs and mentioned the phased clearing of land at all Satras (Vaishnavite monasteries) and grazing lands.
Earlier, Sarma had reported that 1.29 lakh bighas (nearly 43,000 acres) of encroachment had been cleared in the last four years, with around 29 lakh bighas (almost 10 lakh acres) still under encroachment. He also claimed these lands were being encroached by “illegal Bangladeshis and doubtful citizens,” with the state government facing international pressure to stop eviction drives after operations at Gorukhuti in Darrang district.
(This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
📚 Reading Comprehension Quiz
According to the Chief Minister's statement, which of the following states or districts have been found among the list of encroachers in Assam?
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