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Heavy security has been deployed in Taragarh, Ajmer, as the Rajasthan Forest Department prepares to carry out a demolition drive targeting structures built illegally on forest land.
Officials said numerous shops in Taragarh have encroached upon land under the jurisdiction of the Forest Department. The planned drive aims to remove these unauthorised constructions and reclaim the forest area.
“The Forest Department is conducting this demolition drive to remove encroachment. There are around 200 cabin-sized shops in Taragarh, which were built on the Forest Department land. Heavy security has been deployed,” Ajmer SP Vandita Rana told the media.
The operation comes amid similar action in Assam, where large-scale anti-encroachment drives have been undertaken in recent days to clear reserve forest lands from illegal settlers.
On Friday, Assam Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah reiterated that the state government would take appropriate action against non-indigenous individuals and immigrants residing unlawfully on forest land in Guwahati. He alleged that the presence of such settlers threatens to “end Assamese culture” and alter the region’s demographic balance.
“A significant number of non-indigenous individuals and immigrants, or those who will end our culture, are residing on forest land in Guwahati, altering the region’s demographic composition. We will take appropriate action against them. This needs to be done. Otherwise, the indigenous people of Assam will not remain due to changed demography,” Baruah told the media agency.
Earlier, the Assam Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) issued a statement expressing concern over the alleged population rise among “illegal Bangladeshi-origin minorities”.
The continuing evictions in Assam have also placed neighbouring Nagaland on high alert amid fears of an influx of people crossing state borders.
Nagaland Director General of Police (DGP) Rupin Sharma, IPS, addressed the situation on Tuesday, calling for public cooperation with law enforcement and clarifying the state’s position.
Speaking to the reporters, Sharma said, “The current issue, which has been flagged by various people and is also known to the state government, is primarily due to the eviction drives carried out by the Assam government and various reserve forests in Assam.”
He said that the individuals described as “illegal immigrants” are, in fact, settlers who had encroached on Assam’s forest land.
