Guwahati: A large-scale eviction drive is underway at the Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam‘s Nagaon district on Thursday, as authorities move to clear alleged encroachments spread across hundreds of bighas of protected forest land.
According to local sources, the operation is focused on vast stretches of jute cultivation that officials claim have been carried out illegally within the sanctuary’s notified forest area.
Tension gripped the area during the drive after local residents alleged that a man, who had gone to graze his cattle in the morning, was assaulted by forest personnel. The claim could not be independently verified, and the Forest Department had not issued any official response at the time of filing this report.
Residents also alleged that some forest officials had previously allowed cultivation on the government land in exchange for money, claiming that farming activities continued without obstruction until the eviction drive was launched. These allegations remain unverified, and the authorities have not commented on the matter.
Meanwhile, journalists were reportedly prevented from entering the eviction site, with the administration restricting media access during the ongoing operation.
A heavy deployment of police and security personnel has been made across the Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary to maintain law and order and prevent any untoward incidents during the eviction exercise.
Further details are awaited as the operation continues.