Silchar: The Cachar district administration on Tuesday carried out a large-scale eviction drive at Kashipur on the outskirts of Silchar, removing a number of alleged illegal structures standing on land acquired for the Centre’s Bharatmala highway development project. The operation was conducted amid tight security and involved the deployment of around 20 bulldozers.
Officials divided the eviction exercise into three separate zones, with each section supervised by an executive magistrate to ensure smooth coordination and adherence to administrative procedures. Security personnel remained stationed throughout the operation to maintain law and order and prevent any untoward incidents.
Approximately six to seven bulldozers were assigned to each zone to demolish the structures identified for removal. Authorities stated that the action was part of an ongoing effort to clear encroachments from land earmarked for the Bharatmala project, a key national infrastructure initiative aimed at improving road connectivity.
Administrative sources, however, clarified that not every structure in the area had been built illegally. Several landowners reportedly produced valid ownership documents and had already received compensation after their land was officially acquired for the project. Such cases were treated separately during the operation.
Sources familiar with the matter alleged that certain individuals had erected structures on the acquired land after it was notified for the Bharatmala project in an attempt to claim compensation fraudulently. Authorities are examining these allegations as part of the broader inquiry into suspected irregularities surrounding the acquired land.
The latest operation follows an earlier eviction drive conducted on June 5 at Arcuttipore, located near Kashipur, where the district administration had also removed alleged encroachments from land linked to the same highway project.
Officials said the administration will continue monitoring the acquired land to prevent fresh encroachments and ensure the timely execution of the Bharatmala project. Further action is expected if additional unauthorised constructions are identified during the ongoing verification process.
