Land demarcation and ownership verification near Ashabari Border Outpost in Tripura’s Sonamura subdivision have raised eviction concerns among local residents. A joint team of BSF, police and revenue officials inspected properties following a recent border clash.
Concerns over possible eviction have gripped residents of Ashabari village in Tripura’s Sonamura subdivision after the administration launched a land demarcation and ownership verification exercise near the Ashabari Border Outpost (BOP) on Thursday. The development comes three days after a November 3 clash between Border Security Force (BSF) personnel and local villagers brought the border area into national attention.
According to local sources, the latest administrative exercise has created uncertainty among families and shopkeepers whose properties are situated close to the India-Bangladesh international border. Residents are concerned that discrepancies in land records or allegations of unauthorised occupation could lead to eviction proceedings.
A joint team comprising BSF personnel, police officials and revenue department officers from the Sonamura sub-divisional administration visited the area following directions from the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM). Revenue Inspectors and tehsildars were also part of the team tasked with identifying land boundaries and examining ownership documents.
During the operation, several families and shopkeepers were reportedly asked to produce valid land deeds and other documents establishing their ownership of the plots on which their residential houses and commercial establishments stand.
Preliminary information suggests that some occupants may not possess valid ownership documents, while certain families are allegedly residing on government land. However, these claims are yet to be conclusively established through the ongoing verification process.
Local sources said Thursday’s exercise was primarily intended to identify and demarcate land adjoining the BSF outpost. The initial demarcation work has reportedly been completed, but the administration has not yet announced any final decision regarding the properties or possible action against occupants.
The exercise has also brought the ownership status of several shops and residential properties in the area under scrutiny. Land records associated with shops locally identified as Faizal Haque, Azad Mia and Majumder were examined by the officials. Documents relating to residential properties associated with Kabir Hossain and Gias Uddin have also reportedly come under verification.
However, no final clarification has been issued by the administration regarding the legal status of these properties. It remains unclear whether the verification exercise will lead to eviction notices, further investigations or other administrative measures.
Meanwhile, the district administration has maintained that its broader drive to reclaim government land from alleged encroachers has been continuing for approximately two months. During this period, government land at 42 locations in Sonamura subdivision and one location in Bishalgarh subdivision has reportedly been cleared of illegal occupation.
The latest exercise at Ashabari is being viewed in the context of heightened administrative attention to land ownership and property transactions in areas adjoining the international border.
The issue also assumes significance in light of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s previous visit to Tripura, during which he reportedly directed the state administration to maintain close surveillance over land purchases and transfers taking place in border areas.
According to senior sources, a key concern behind the directive is to prevent individuals suspected of having entered India illegally from Bangladesh from registering border-area land in their names through property transactions.
The administration’s latest move has therefore drawn attention to the broader challenges of land ownership verification, government property protection and border security in the region.
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For residents of Ashabari, however, the immediate concern remains the outcome of the document verification exercise and whether their homes and commercial establishments will be affected by any subsequent administrative action.
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As of Thursday, the administration had not issued a final statement on the ownership disputes or announced any confirmed eviction decision. The future course of action is expected to depend on the findings of the land demarcation and verification process.
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