Assam Police on Monday deported 36 Bangladeshi nationals from Sribhumi and South Salmara areas as part of the state’s ongoing efforts to curb cross-border infiltration, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

Sarma, in a post on his official ‘X’ handle, said the infiltrators threatened local demographics and encroached upon the rights of indigenous communities. “They will be sent back to where they belong,” he added. Earlier this month, security forces had deported 10 Bangladeshi nationals from the Sribhumi sector.

In parallel, the state government has stepped up eviction drives, reclaiming over 1.29 lakh bighas of land from illegal settlers occupying government, forest, and grazing reserves (VGR/PGR). During an inspection at Uriamghat in Golaghat district, Sarma noted that some families had illegally occupied hundreds of bighas of land for economic use.

The Chief Minister said illegal occupation of Village Grazing Reserves, Professional Grazing Reserves, Satras, Naamghars, and forest areas will be cleared gradually. He urged public cooperation, emphasizing that the government cannot ignore large-scale encroachments.