The Assam government, on Monday, undertook a two-day eviction drive inside the Lumding reserve forest in the state’s Hojai district. 

The eviction drive at the Lumding reserve forest in Hojai district of Assam is in compliance with a Gauhati High Court order, officials said.

About 1000 persons voluntarily vacated the area, informed Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday. 

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The eviction drive at the Lumding reserve forest on Monday comes barely two months after the violence during an eviction drive at Gorukhuti area near Sipajhar in Darrang district of Assam. 

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At least two people were killed in police firing and over twenty sustained injuries in the violence during the eviction drive at Sipajhar in Assam. 

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The eviction drive was peaceful on Monday as most of the people had left the place in the last few days following counselling by the district administration about the high court order to make the forest encroachment-free, Hojai deputy commissioner Anupam Choudhury said. 

The state government deployed 1000 police and CRPF personnel to carry out the eviction drive in Lumding reserve forest. 

Reportedly, the government will clear about 500 out of 1410 hectares of encroached land of the reserve forest during the two-day eviction drive. 

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“The government is committed to follow the order and will do so through dialogue and not by force,” Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. 

“Eviction drive has been carried out peacefully in Lumding forest. Everyone have been sent home. The forest is free of encroachment from today,” Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said.