Guwahati, July 29 -- The Assam government on Tuesday launched a large-scale eviction drive in the Rengma Forest Division of Uriamghat, targeting alleged illegal encroachments on forest land.

The operation, centred around Bidyapur in the Golaghat district, aims to reclaim approximately 11,000 bighas of land, officials confirmed.

According to a senior forest official, the area had seen "massive encroachment, almost a complete commercial setup." The first phase of the operation was completed on Tuesday afternoon and is expected to continue in the coming days.

The drive began early in the morning with the deployment of over 150 excavators and bulldozers, supported by personnel from the Assam Police, CRPF, and Forest Department.

Security f...