Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has reiterated his government’s commitment to continue eviction drives across the state, announcing a major operation in Goalpara district scheduled for Saturday. The upcoming drive aims to clear encroachments from forest land, part of an ongoing campaign that has already cleared more than 25,000 acres in the last four years.
Addressing after a cabinet meeting in Guwahati, Sarma said, “As of now, the Assam government has cleared thousands of bighas of land in the last four years. In my view, it is not less than 25,000 acres of land. This is huge.”
He added that a fresh drive will be launched in Goalpara's Paikan Reserve Forest under the Krishnai Forest Range, where the district administration plans to clear approximately 1,040 bighas of land, displacing around 1,080 families.
Sarma stated that the Gauhati High Court has directed the state to clear forest land while ensuring basic facilities such as drinking water and essential supplies for those affected. He also announced plans to release detailed data on eviction drives carried out since he assumed office in May 2021.
Also read: Mamata slams Assam for NRC notice to Bengal farmer
Commenting on rehabilitation, the Chief Minister clarified that the government is open to providing land rights to evicted individuals, provided they are landless and bona fide Indian citizens. However, he noted that few people come forward to claim land rights after being evicted. “They must be landless in their native places, not just at the place from which they were evicted,” he said.
Sarma also addressed the recent eviction drive in Lakhimpur, claiming it was necessary to counter a "conspiracy to change the demography" of the region. “If there is no BJP, there would not be restoration of the demography,” he said, alleging that settlers from South Salmara-Mankachar and other minority-dominated areas were altering the population composition in northern Assam.
He further asserted that Hindus have become minorities in several areas, citing Dhubri town and parts of Goalpara, where he said a 200–300-year-old temple now stands in a Hindu-minority area. He alleged that 10,000 to 12,000 people had migrated from Baghbor in Barpeta to Dhubri, significantly altering the region’s demographics.
Separately, an eviction drive in Chapar circle earlier this week cleared approximately 3,500 bighas of land in Charuwa Bakra, Chirakuta and Santoshpur villages, affecting around 1,100 families. The land has been earmarked for a 3,400 MW thermal power plant to be developed by the Adani Group.
During the operation, tensions escalated as alleged encroachers damaged excavators and attempted to attack security personnel, prompting a baton-charge by police to disperse the mob. Last month, Sarma had visited the proposed project site and announced that tenders for the thermal power plant would be floated soon.
The continuation of large-scale eviction drives has drawn both support and criticism, with the government citing legal and developmental imperatives, while rights groups and opposition voices raise concerns over displacement and humanitarian impact.
Follow us
