How political forces are reshaping Assam through mass evictions

July 30, 2025

The BJP-led Assam government under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has intensified eviction drives targeting Bengali-speaking Muslim communities, known locally as "Miyas. " Since coming to power in 2021, Sarma has consistently framed these communities as illegal encroachers and threats to Assam's culture, accusing them of various forms of "jihad" including land encroachment, excessive fertilizer use, and causing floods. These eviction operations have displaced thousands of families, with recent drives in 2025 affecting areas in Nalbari, Dhubri, and Goalpara districts, demolishing homes, mosques, and other structures.

Who is affected

Bengali-speaking Muslim communities (referred to as "Miyas") in Assam
Approximately 2,050 Miya families evicted for the Garukhuti Agriculture Project
Around 500 Bengali-speaking Muslim families evicted from Pabha Reserve Forest
Approximately 8,000 Bengali-speaking Muslims evicted from railway land in Morigaon district
About 1,400 Bengali-speaking Muslim families displaced from 450 hectares in Dhubri district
Over 1,080 families evicted from Haseela Beel and Paikan Reserve forest village in Goalpara district
School-age children and infants within these displaced families
Impoverished individuals who now face homelessness

What action is being taken

The Assam government under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is conducting mass eviction drives targeting areas predominantly inhabited by Bengali-speaking Muslims
The government is reclaiming what it claims is approximately 25,000 acres of illegally occupied land through these eviction operations
Opposition parties including the Indian National Congress and Raijor Dal are protesting against and condemning the evictions
The All Assam Minority Students Union (AAMSU) and All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) are organizing protests against what they call "inhuman and unjustified" evictions
Some opposition leaders are visiting affected areas to document and denounce the government's actions

Why it matters

The evictions represent potential human rights violations against an already marginalized community
Families are being rendered homeless without adequate provisions for shelter, food, and hygiene
The situation is disrupting education and future opportunities for children in affected families
The evictions have resulted in violent clashes between police and protesters, including deaths in some instances
The actions appear to be intensifying religious polarization in Assam as elections approach
The targeted nature of the evictions raises questions about equal treatment under the law, as some reports indicate Hindu families and temples in the same areas remain untouched
The government's approach undermines constitutional principles of equal justice for all citizens

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: Global Voices