Overview
- District and forest authorities began demolitions on November 9 to free 1,140 bighas inside the Dahikata/Dohikata Reserve Forest.
- Notices were issued to about 580 households more than two weeks ago, and officials say roughly 70% vacated before the drive started.
- Over 1,000 personnel, including Assam Police, CRPF and specialized units, were deployed with dozens of excavators across five blocks.
- Authorities described the operation as largely peaceful, though locals tried to block machinery and police detained a few protesters.
- Officials cite Gauhati High Court directives and plans to curb human–elephant conflict, including protective fencing, while reports note most affected are Bengali-speaking Muslim families who dispute being encroachers.