Guwahati: In a decisive move to restore historic land to its rightful custodians, the Bongaigaon district administration on Monday launched a major eviction drive, reclaiming territory illegally occupied for over two decades from the premises of the revered Shri Shri Raghunath Bigrah Mandir Satra. Situated in No. 6 Bhandara, Srijangram, the sacred institution had been battling encroachment on its expansive 349 bighas of land for the past 25 years, despite numerous administrative pleas for voluntary vacation.
The operation, executed under stringent security measures and overseen by senior officials from both the district and police administration, saw the successful eviction of 27 families from the disputed plots. This significant step marks the culmination of a long-standing struggle by the temple-satra authorities to protect their heritage.
Officials confirmed that the eviction drive was initiated only after repeated unheeded directives and public notifications were issued to the encroachers, underscoring the administration’s commitment to due process. With the land now restored to the temple trust, it is anticipated to be brought back under the formal management and custodianship of the Satra committee, ensuring its preservation for future generations.