Guwahati, July 29 -- The Assam government launched one of its largest eviction operations to date on Tuesday, targeting alleged illegal settlers in the Rengma Reserve Forest near Uriamghat, located in Golaghat district on the Assam-Nagaland border.

As part of an ongoing campaign to reclaim forest and government land, authorities have begun clearing approximately 11,000 bighas (roughly 3,600 acres) of encroached land.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's government has intensified efforts to remove what it claims are illegal infiltrators, many of whom are accused of transforming reserved forest areas into betel nut plantations tied to a larger betel mafia network.

Officials estimate that the full operation will displace nearly 2,7...