Elephants Used to Wreck Home of 'Illegal' Settlers in Laukhowa Forest in Assam's Nagaon

Nagaon, February 28, 2020:

The Forest Department earlier today carried out an eviction drive in Laukhuwa forest that falls under Nagaon district of Assam to uproot "illegal settlers" who had started cultivating the forest land.

According to the authorities, a certain section of people had assembled in the area and tilled the land in the forest area to grow crops. Moreover, they had also reportedly erected pillars.

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The Nagaon district forest department, Laukhuwa Forest officials, as well as Assam Police personnel today took three elephants to several areas located within the forest -Donduwa, Rowmari, Kaliyadinga, Solihahamari - and destroyed several residential shacks that had been built by the "illegal settlers".

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It may be mentioned that earlier also the forest officials had destroyed such compartments in the past. However, the shocks were re-built by the section of people who returned to the land to continue dwelling there.

A forest official, talking to reporters, said that the joint team had down to clear the illegal posts. He further informed that the houses had been destroyed on February 26. However, reports emerged that the settlers again erected housing establishments later on. "Then again, tomorrow, from 2-5 pm, we broke the houses", the official said.

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