Goalpara, July 12 -- The Assam administration has started a massive eviction drive in the Paikan Reserve Forest area in Goalpara district on Saturday to evict around 1080 families who illegally encroached on the forest reserve land, officials said on Saturday.

A large number of security personnel have been deployed in the area to maintain the law and order situation.

Tejas Mariswamy, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Goalpara Division, said that there is encroachment in around 140 hectares of land in the Paikan Reserve Forest area, and the High Court has instructed to clear it in order to revive the forest.

"Paikan Reserve Forest area was declared a reserve in 1982. There was an encroachment of nearly 140 hectares. Goalpara has the hi...