LAMAHI: District Forest Office has directed the Community Forest Users' Committees to evacuate the freed Kamaiyas from the forest areas of Dang district. The former bonded labourers have been residing in more than a dozen community forests in Deukhuri area for the last two years. The settlers have also started cultivation on the forest land. District Forest Office, Community Forest Users, Civil Society and political parties had agreed to evacuate the freed Kamaiyas from the community forests. Kishor Chandra Gautam, officer, DFO, said, ''We will evacuate all the settlers irrespective of whether any one is a certified freed Kamaiya, from the forest land." He added that the forest had witnessed a lot of encroachment after it was handed over to the community. About 4,000 Kamaiyas have been residing in Deukhuri. Meanwhile, DFO Dang has issued a notice asking the squatters to leave the forest within 35 days. They had settled in the forest after a meeting with political parties two years ago. Kailash Chaudhari, secretary, Land Rights Struggle Committee Dang, said only 82 families had a valid identity card. Some 472 families have been residing in 117 hectors of forest land in the district. Chaudhari, however, expressed ignorance about the ultimatum. The forest office has said it will take action as per the Forest ACT 1992 if the settlers defy the order.