Archive · 9 Dec 2025
Assam and Uttarakhand Evict Encroachers
The governments of Assam and Uttarakhand have been working to take back land that people have taken illegally.
In Assam, they have taken back a lot of land, even more than the size of a whole city!
They say they are doing this to protect the land and stop people from changing the way the state looks in terms of who lives there.
In Uttarakhand, 52 houses were demolished because they were built on forest land.
The government says they gave the residents enough time to prove they own the land, but some residents and activists say the demolitions were not legal.
Some people who were living on this land, mostly from Bangladesh, have been asked to leave.
Sometimes, this has caused problems and fights, but the governments say it's important to follow the rules and keep the land safe for everyone.
Assam government has reclaimed 167 sq km of land from encroachers in the last three years, larger than Chandigarh.
Recent eviction drives in Assam freed 38 bighas of government and forest land in Nagaon district.
In Uttarakhand, 52 houses were demolished in Ramnagar for being built on Reserved Forest land.
Eviction drives in both states were conducted in compliance with Supreme Court and High Court directives.
The governments aim to prevent demographic changes and protect government, forest, and community lands from illegal occupation.
- Who
- Assam and Uttarakhand governments, led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and the Nainital district administration
- What
- Massive land reclamation and eviction drives against illegal encroachments
- When
- Ongoing since 2021 in Assam, with recent drives in December 2025 and throughout 2025; in Uttarakhand, demolitions occurred on Sunday, with more hearings scheduled later in the month
- Where
- Various districts in Assam, including Nagaon, Goalpara, Sribhumi, Rengma, and Dhubri; in Uttarakhand, the Terai West division of Ramnagar
- Why
- To free government, forest, and community lands from illegal occupation and prevent demographic changes, as well as to protect important wildlife zones and comply with court orders
Government and Forest Department
Residents and Activists
Legality of Demolitions
Government and Forest Department
The demolitions were conducted in compliance with court orders and after due notice, as the land is reserved forest land.
Residents and Activists
The demolitions were unlawful as the court stay covered the entire land, not just the houses, and Forest Rights Act claims were not settled.
Timeline of Encroachment
Government and Forest Department
Many structures were built in the past 15 years, indicating recent encroachment.
Residents and Activists
Residents claim they have lived on the land since childhood, with some families settling there as early as 1967.
- Land Reclaimed in Assam
- 167 sq km (larger than Chandigarh)
- Forest Land Freed in Assam
- 9,646 hectares
- Revenue Land Freed in Assam
- 7,130 hectares
- Total Land Freed in Assam
- 16,776 hectares in last 3 years
- Encroachers in Assam
- 1.29 lakh bighas occupied by Bangladeshi infiltrators and doubtful citizens
- Recent Eviction in Assam
- 38 bighas in Nagaon district on 5th December 2025
- Supreme Court
- Eviction drives conducted in compliance with Supreme Court and High Court directives
- Homes Demolished in Uttarakhand
- 52 houses in Ramnagar, Uttarakhand
- Total Families Affected in Uttarakhand
- 170 families received eviction orders, 700 families live on 200 hectares of forest land
- Land Cleared in Uttarakhand
- 25 hectares cleared, affecting 52 households
