Guwahati, July 12 -- An eviction drive to remove encroachments from approximately 135 hectares of land in the Paikan Reserve Forest in Assam's Goalpara district began on Saturday morning, officials said.

The operation, carried out with the deployment of around 40 excavators and a large number of security personnel, has remained peaceful so far, they added.

"The eviction drive began in the morning and has been going on smoothly. Senior district and police officers are overseeing the operation," an official said.

Goalpara Deputy Commissioner Khanindra Choudhury had earlier stated that around 95 per cent of the alleged encroachers had vacated the area voluntarily, dismantling their own structures. The drive was initially scheduled for Fri...