Assam’s Massive Eviction Drive Sparks Outrage: 1,500 Families Face Displacement in Golaghat

The Assam government’s large-scale eviction drive in the Rengma Reserve Forest, Uriamghat, Golaghat district, continued for its fifth consecutive day on Saturday, targeting alleged encroachments on nearly 1,500 hectares of forest land. The operation, which began on July 29, 2025, is set to displace approximately 1,500 families, predominantly from the Muslim community, and has cleared over 8,000 bighas (approximately 1,100 hectares) so far, according to official reports.

The drive, led by the Assam Forest Department with support from the Golaghat district administration, Assam Police, and Nagaland authorities, focuses on 12 villages, including Bidyapur, Sonari Beel, Pithaghat, and Madhupur. On Saturday, demolitions targeted Bidyapur and No. 2 Madhupur, with the operation proceeding peacefully under tight security involving Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel. A district official confirmed that around 10,500 to 11,000 bighas of land were encroached, with notices served to 1,500 families, while approximately 500 families holding Forest Rights Committee (FRC) certificates—primarily Bodo, Nepali, and Manipuri communities—are exempt. Around 80% of notified families reportedly vacated voluntarily after receiving seven-day eviction notices.

Controversy surrounds the operation due to the presence of government-sanctioned infrastructure, including houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G), water connections under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), schools under Sarba Siksha Abhiyan (SSA), sub-health centers, and electricity connections. Affected families claim their settlements, dating back to the 1970s under the Janata Party government (1978–79) and the first AGP government (1985), were established with state encouragement to counter alleged encroachments from Nagaland. The Bidyapur LP School, established in 1978, supports claims of long-term residency.

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A senior Forest Department official acknowledged that some facilities were provided post-2016, even after the BJP assumed power in Assam. The presence of mosques, madrassas, and churches further complicates the narrative of illegal encroachment. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who inspected Uriamghat on July 25, stated that 70% of encroachers, including settlers from Assam districts like Cachar, Dhubri, and Nagaon, as well as West Bengal and Bihar, had vacated voluntarily. He emphasized the government’s mission to reclaim forest land, alleging that settlers engaged in betel nut cultivation and other activities that degraded the forest.

The operation, divided into nine zones, involves over 2,000 security personnel, 500 forest guards, and 150 excavators, with senior officials like Special Chief Secretary M.K. Yadava and Inspector General of Police Akhilesh Kr Singh overseeing the process. The Nagaland government has issued advisories to prevent displaced families from crossing state borders, reflecting the operation’s sensitivity due to the Assam-Nagaland border dispute, where 59,490 hectares of Assam’s land are reportedly occupied by Nagaland.

Local residents and organizations, such as the Miya Satra Parishad, have criticized the drive as “inhuman,” questioning the lack of resettlement plans and highlighting the demolition of government-backed infrastructure. Some evicted families claim they were settled to protect Assam’s land from Nagaland’s influence, raising concerns about selective targeting. The Gauhati High Court, responding to petitions from 73 residents, granted temporary relief until August 7 but did not halt the overall drive.

As the eviction continues, with a survey planned for additional areas like Rajapukhuri and Gelajan, the operation has sparked debates over land rights, identity politics, and environmental conservation. Chief Minister Sarma’s assertion that the drive protects Assam’s forests and cultural identity has fueled tensions, with critics arguing it disproportionately affects marginalized communities. The Rengma Reserve Forest eviction, one of Assam’s largest, underscores the complex interplay of historical settlements, border disputes, and ecological priorities.

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