HT Correspondent
BISWANATH CHARIALI, March 9: The district administration of Biswanath carried out an eviction drive on Monday in three locations under Sootea to clear alleged encroachment on Village Grazing Reserve (VGR) land.
The drive was conducted in Milanpur, Soraijonia and Solahola areas under the Biswanath Legislative Assembly Constituency, where authorities said around 65 families had encroached approximately 75 bighas of VGR land.
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According to officials, 34 families were residing in Milanpur, 16 in Soraijonia and 15 in Solahola.
The operation was conducted by the administration of Sootea under the supervision of Naduar Revenue Circle officials.
Circle Officer Dr Akashdeep Kakaty said eviction notices had been served earlier and public announcements were made on Sunday evening.
As a result, many occupants vacated the land before the drive began.
The eviction operation proceeded peacefully without any law-and-order issues.
Nearly 200 personnel from the police and the Central Reserve Police Force were deployed in the area as a precautionary measure.
Officials used 17 bulldozers and several excavators to clear the encroachments.
During the drive, about 25 bighas, 1 katha and 7 lechas of land under Dag No. 325 in Solahola were cleared, along with 25 bighas, 3 kathas and 9 lechas under Dag No 14 in Soraijonia.
In Milanpur, 24 bighas, 4 kathas and 13 lechas of VGR land under Dag No. 196 were also freed.
Local residents welcomed the action and urged the district administration to continue such drives to free other government lands from encroachment.
