Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday called on citizens not to provide shelter to evicted encroachers, warning that doing so could reverse the state’s progress in reclaiming land and safeguarding its indigenous community. Speaking on the sidelines of programs in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), Sarma emphasized the need for continued public support to sustain the government’s aggressive anti-encroachment campaign.

Sarma urged encroachers to “return to where they came from,” asserting that the state’s residents are increasingly aware and unlikely to aid those evicted. “Our people should not give them shelter. Otherwise, the gains we’ve made through evictions will be lost,” he told reporters. He claimed that approximately 29 lakh bighas (over 9.5 lakh acres) of land remain under encroachment, signaling that significant work lies ahead to protect Assam’s ‘jati’ (community).

Reflecting on a recent eviction drive in Uriamghat along the Assam-Nagaland border, Sarma clarified, “There is no Naga aggression. The Naga people and government have supported our efforts.” Without naming specific communities, he accused encroachers of converting forests into betelnut plantations and fisheries, and engaging in practices like “land jihad” and “love jihad,” which he claimed harm Assam’s indigenous population.

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Sarma highlighted that over the past four years, the government has reclaimed 1.29 lakh bighas (over 42,500 acres) of land from “illegal Bangladeshis and doubtful citizens.” He reiterated that public land, including Village Grazing Reserves (VGR), Professional Grazing Reserves (PGR), Satras, Namghars, and forests, will be cleared of unauthorized occupation in phases. On Sunday, he clarified that evictions target only non-indigenous encroachers, stating, “We will never evict any Indian or Assamese people.”

The Chief Minister’s remarks have sparked debate, with critics arguing the rhetoric risks polarizing communities, while supporters view the drives as essential for preserving Assam’s land and cultural identity.

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