Guwahati, July 18: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday alleged that people from as far as Manipur are involved in land encroachment activities within the state. Addressing a press conference in Guwahati, Sarma reiterated his government’s resolve to clear all illegally occupied land, including protected forest areas, as part of an ongoing crackdown against unauthorized settlements.

The Chief Minister said a recent eviction drive in Lakhimpur revealed the presence of families from Manipur and Nagaon. “Twelve families had reached the site, likely sent earlier by encroachers. They were unaware that the eviction had already taken place,” Sarma stated, adding that the district administration has initiated steps to send them back.

Sarma claimed that there is a deliberate “design” in the way encroachments are carried out — where a few individuals first enter an area, begin cultivation, and gradually bring in more people to establish a larger illegal settlement. He cited similar patterns observed in Lumding, Uriamghat, Golaghat, Sribhumi, and Hailakandi, where large-scale cultivation of ginger, betel nut, and rubber has followed initial encroachments.

The CM highlighted that in Uriamghat alone, approximately 500 families have encroached on thousands of bighas of forest land, with each family allegedly occupying 300-500 bighas. He added that a planned eviction drive in Uriamghat is being prepared, which may take four to five months due to legal requirements and coordination with neighbouring Nagaland, as the area lies along the inter-state border.

Sarma also raised concerns over the role of officials and local politicians, stating that forest rangers had allegedly colluded with encroachers. “I will take strict action. That’s why I’m the chief minister,” he said. He also noted that once illegal settlements grow to 5,000-10,000 people, political interference often hinders corrective action due to emerging vote bank dynamics.

The CM said that since May 2021, the state has cleared 1,19,548 bighas of encroached land, impacting about 50,000 individuals. However, nearly 63 lakh bighas — including 29 lakh bighas of forest land — still remain under illegal occupation.

Without directly naming any community, Sarma alleged that most of the encroachers belonged to “one religion” and warned of an “invasion” threatening Assam’s indigenous population. His comments, however, come amid growing concern over communal sensitivities, as many of the evicted are reported to be Bengali-speaking Muslims.