A large eviction drive began early this morning in Baghmari and Behali areas of Assam’s Biswanath district. The operation, which started around 7 a.m., is being carried out by the district administration to clear about 265 bighas of land that officials say has been under illegal occupation for some time.
According to district officials, the administration has been preparing for this operation for the past several days. Senior officers from both the civil and police departments are present at the site to monitor the situation. The authorities have also arranged for tight security to make sure that the eviction process continues without any major disturbance.
The entire eviction area has been divided into five separate zones. For each zone, government officers and staff have been appointed to supervise the work. The operation is being carried out under the guidance of Additional Commissioner Asim Borgohain and Behali Sub-Divisional Commissioner Prabhat Pegu. This structured arrangement has been made so that the eviction work can move forward smoothly and in a planned manner. 
More than 20 bulldozers have been placed near the Powergrid project area for use during the eviction. In addition to this, a large number of security personnel have been brought in from nearby districts. Thousands of police and paramilitary personnel are said to be on duty to maintain law and order and to prevent any untoward incident. The administration wants to ensure that the situation remains peaceful throughout the day.
Earlier, the district administration had issued eviction notices to 433 families who were living on the land. These families were informed in advance that the land they were occupying would be cleared. However, not all families accepted the notice quietly. Out of the total, 68 families approached the Gauhati High Court seeking relief. The High Court has stayed the eviction of these 68 families for the time being. As a result, they will not be removed from their homes during this drive until the court gives further directions.
