At least 58 families were evicted from the Chirang Reserve Forest limits in Assam for illegally encroaching on forest land since January 2023.
On 24 September 2023, 25 families in Runikhata range in Assam's Chirang district were evicted for illegally encroaching on forest land. The eviction drive to clear the Chirang Reserve Forest, in the Runikhata range along the Indo-Bhutan border, from encroachment was jointly carried out by the Laukriguri Forest Department and the Assam Police. The officials reclaimed approximately 75 hectares of land that had been encroached upon.
In the Runikhata range, some residents had started cultivating rubber plantations on forest land. Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) B N Patiri told news agency PTI, "These encroachers were mostly from the Bodo community and stayed in nearby villages. They deforested a huge area and started a rubber plantation with the help of two brokers. We have arrested these two culprits."
Several people protested against the eviction and demanded the authorities to stop the eviction. They also claimed that they had received the rubber saplings from the rubber board to plant them in the area.
An official stated, “People from nearby villages have gathered here and destroying the plantation area. We are clearing the area of encroachment through eviction. We will once again begin planting trees. These people have destroyed the tree plantation and have begun rubber plantation. A total of 1 lakh rubber sapling stock is present here. The evicted people have claimed that they have received the rubber saplings from the rubber board to plant them here. The rubber board without the prior permission or NOC from the forest department cannot issue grant or permit people to plant rubber here. Rubber plantation is not a forest activity, only forest plantation can take place here.”
Two persons namely Majen Basumatary from Laukriguri village and Ratan Nazary from Udalguri village, respectively, were detained during the eviction drive.
In April 2024, forest department officials noticed a large-scale encroachment of forest land and deforestation have taken place in Ultapani, Kokrajhar district. Following which, 33 families were evicted from the forest land. In Ultapani alone, forest officials claimed that around 25 bighas have already been illegally encroached by the people.
Similar instances of encroachment and deforestation was reported in the Sonapur and Laimuthi areas of the Chirang Reserve Forest in Kokrajhar district. Media report suggested that around 250 families have occupied land plots of 15 bighas each in the Lumsung reserve forest near Laopani. These families, from areas like Dhekiajuli, Karbi Anglong, and Baksa, expressed willingness to leave if provided with alternative land.
The conflict has intensified following several anti-encroachment drives. In August 2025, Chief Minister Hemanta Biswa Sarma defended the eviction drives, emphasising they’re targeted at ineligible settlers on forest land, while tribals with pre-2005 claims under the Forest Rights Act might get land rights. “We will evict everyone who are not covered under forest rights act, but clearing all encroachment will take at least 10 years,” he told reporters. Statewide, 29 lakh bighas remain encroached, with 1.29 lakh freed in four years, including over 25,000 acres since 2021.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) took suo motu cognisance in 2025, probing forest cover loss across the Northeast, including Assam’s 86.66 square kilometre dip inside recorded forest areas as per the 2023 India State of Forest Report. In Chirang, encroachments by indigenous communities were flagged as a key cause, with the state reporting clearances of over 10,000 hectares statewide, though regeneration lags. Affidavits submitted to NGT highlighted evictions in Chirang as ongoing remedial actions, alongside calls for audits on compensatory afforestation.
While authorities lean on the Assam Forest Regulation, 1891, and Indian Forest Act, 1927, critics flag loopholes in the Forest Rights Act, 2006, where claims often get ignored or rejected without full verification. Human rights concerns loom large with displaced communities demanding rehabilitation.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Demand to retain/protect access to common land/resources
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Complaint against procedural violations; Demand for rehabilitation; Provision of alternative land for resettlement
Region Classification
Rural
Type of Land
Common
Non-Forest (Grazing Land)
What was the action taken by the police?
Detention
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
2
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
Don't Know
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Assam Forest Regulation, 1891
Section 24 and 25 (Penalties for trespass/damage and acts prohibited in reserved forests, including clearing/breaking up land for cultivation or non-forest purposes like rubber plantations)
Indian Forest Act, 1927
Section 26 (Acts prohibited in reserved forests, including making fresh clearings or breaking up land for cultivation/non-forest purposes)
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
Neither were they informed, nor did they have access
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Original Project Deadline
Whether the Project has been Delayed
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Residential area, Non-agri rural enterprise
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Source/Reference
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
Type of investment:
Year of Estimation
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Forest and Scheduled Area Governance Laws, Forest and Scheduled Area Governance Laws, Case Laws, Other, Forest and Scheduled Area Governance Laws, Forest and Scheduled Area Governance Laws
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
Yes
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Forced evictions/dispossession of land
Legal Status:
In Court
Status of Case In Court
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
Yes
Name of the adjudicatory body
NATIONAL GREEN TRIBUNAL (PRINCIPAL BENCH, NEW DELHI)
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Case Number
Original application no. 20/2025
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Displacement
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
Yes
Reported Details of the Violation:
1. Forced evictions without rehabilitation; detention without charges; destruction of livelihoods (rubber plantations) 2. Eviction drives involving police and forest officials demolishing homes and plantations; protests met with arrests
Date of Violation
September 23, 2023
Location of Violation
Runikhata range under Chirang district and Ripu-Chirang Reserve Forest
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
Forest Department of Laokriguri; Assam Police; Divisional Forest Office, Chirang
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
No
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
No
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
Bodo community; Families from Dhekiajuli, Karbi Anglong, Baksa
What was the action taken by the police?
Detention
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
2
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
Don't Know
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Assam Forest Regulation, 1891
Section 24 and 25 (Penalties for trespass/damage and acts prohibited in reserved forests, including clearing/breaking up land for cultivation or non-forest purposes like rubber plantations)
Indian Forest Act, 1927
Section 26 (Acts prohibited in reserved forests, including making fresh clearings or breaking up land for cultivation/non-forest purposes)
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
Neither were they informed, nor did they have access
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
Emilo is pursuing her PhD in Political Science at the North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong. Her primary research areas include human and land rights and gender issues.
