Men Cling to Earthmover in Assam Eviction Clash

A viral video capturing two men desperately hanging onto an earthmover in Assam’s Hojai district has spotlighted the escalating tensions during a government-led eviction drive in Adarsha Bazar. The operation, conducted on Wednesday, targeted eight families accused of illegally occupying 19 bighas of government land, sparking chaotic resistance from residents determined to protect their homes.

The footage, widely shared across social media, depicts intense scenes of defiance, with women running, shouting, and refusing to vacate as police and officials pressed forward with the demolition. One striking moment shows a man on crutches gesturing frantically to halt the earthmovers, while others physically obstructed the machines. To quell the unrest, police resorted to a lathi-charge, injuring a constable in the process as encroachers pelted stones, according to posts on X.

The eviction, authorized under the Assam Municipal Act, followed a request by the Hojai Municipal Board to reclaim land for developmental projects. Chaturthi Rani Biswas, chairperson of the board, confirmed that notices were served 48 hours prior, following a land demarcation on August 7. The families, labeled as “illegal infiltrators” by some sources, had reportedly settled on the land decades ago, raising questions about their status and rights.

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Assam’s ongoing eviction drives, intensified under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, aim to recover government and forest land from alleged encroachments, often citing illegal immigration from Bangladesh. Similar operations in Hojai’s Lanka and Sonitpur’s Jamugurihat in June 2021 evicted dozens of families, while a 2021 Darrang drive turned deadly, claiming two lives. Rights groups have criticized these actions for their humanitarian toll, arguing that displaced families, many displaced by floods or erosion, lack proper rehabilitation. The government defends the drives as essential for preserving forest cover, curbing infiltration, and enabling development projects like the Garukhuti Project for afforestation and agriculture.

The Hojai clash has reignited debates, with X posts reflecting polarized sentiments: some laud the government’s resolve, while others decry the “inhumane” treatment of settlers. The incident underscores the broader challenge of balancing land reclamation with the rights of long-term residents in Assam’s complex socio-political landscape.

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