The Lakhimpur district administration conducted a large-scale eviction drive on Thursday, reclaiming approximately 235 bighas (78 acres) of allegedly encroached land across four locations: Debera Doloni, Siringsuk, Dhakuakhonia, and Raang Chali. The operation, which affected around 220 families, targeted three designated Village Grazing Reserve (VGR) areas.
According to Lakhimpur Deputy Commissioner Pronab Jit Kakoty, the affected families were issued notices on June 29 and asked to provide land ownership documents. “None of the families could produce valid documents, and the eviction was carried out as per procedure,” Kakoty stated.
The eviction was executed under heavy security, with nearly 400 personnel and 21 bulldozers and excavators deployed to ensure a smooth operation. Authorities reported no disruptions during the drive.
Of the 218 evicted families, 25 belong to indigenous communities, while the majority are Bengali-speaking Muslims. The state government has announced plans to rehabilitate the indigenous families by allocating land at alternative locations.
The eviction site in Dhakuakhonia had recently drawn attention after three suspected cow skulls were found near a Namghar on June 18, leading to the arrest of seven individuals. In a related development, police conducted a crackdown following alleged incidents of beef parts being thrown during Eid celebrations, resulting in approximately 80 arrests across Dhubri, Hojai, Goalpara, and Lakhimpur districts.
The administration emphasized that the eviction drive was part of ongoing efforts to reclaim encroached public land and ensure compliance with land ownership regulations.
