Overview
- Authorities said the Forest Department and district administration reclaimed about 5,962 bighas in Lutumari Reserve Forest over a two-day operation that ended Sunday.
- Notices were issued three months in advance with an extra month granted, and officials said roughly 70% of the estimated 1,500–1,700 families vacated voluntarily before demolitions.
- Heavy machinery and security forces cleared thousands of structures, including 2,070 kuccha houses, 192 brick buildings, seven Anganwadi centres, two primary schools, a primary health centre and Jal Jeevan Mission facilities.
- The drive followed a Gauhati High Court order dated August 18, 2025, and senior forest officials said restoring the area would help reopen elephant corridors and curb conflict.
- Police arrested two men for allegedly extorting residents with forged High Court documents, while displaced families—largely Bengali-speaking Muslims—pressed for rehabilitation and shelter.