20 Bulldozers Roll Into Kashipur as Cachar Launches Mega Eviction Drive on Bharatmala Land

A large-scale eviction drive is underway in Cachar’s Kashipur area on Tuesday (July 14), with the district administration removing alleged illegal structures built on land acquired for the Bharatmala highway project. The operation, involving heavy security and multiple earthmovers, is expected to be completed by the end of the day, officials said.

Speaking to the media during the drive, the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) said the eviction was part of a routine administrative exercise. He said the operation had been divided into three zones, with three magistrates supervising the work. Police personnel have also been deployed to maintain law and order, while six to seven JCB machines are being used to clear the structures. Total 20 bulldozers are rolling. According to the ADC, the administration expects the eviction drive to conclude within the day.

The ADC also clarified that not all houses in the area were illegal. He said some property owners had valid documents and had already received compensation after their land was acquired for the Bharatmala project. The eviction, he added, was being carried out only on land identified for clearance under the ongoing operation.

According to the administration, the drive is aimed at removing structures that had allegedly been built on land acquired for the highway project. Local reports had earlier alleged that a group had planned to construct temporary houses, shops and other structures on the acquired land in an attempt to claim compensation.

Tuesday’s operation follows a similar eviction drive conducted in the Arkatipur area of Cachar on 5 June. In Kashipur, the administration deployed heavy machinery and a large security presence to carry out the exercise, which continued peacefully till the time of reporting.