A large-scale eviction drive in Assam’s Hojai district has resulted in the displacement of over 1,400 Muslim families, triggering widespread protests and heavy-handed police action. The state authorities claimed the drive was aimed at clearing “encroached government land,” but locals argue they have been residing in the area for decades with valid documents.
According to eyewitnesses and rights groups, the eviction operation began without sufficient notice, leaving thousands homeless overnight. Bulldozers flattened makeshift homes, schools, and mosques in the area. Affected families, including women and children, were forced to spend nights in the open under harsh conditions.
Protests erupted shortly after the demolition began, with residents demanding rehabilitation and questioning the government’s targeting of a specific community. Police reportedly resorted to baton charges and detentions to disperse demonstrators. Videos from the ground show chaotic scenes of women crying for help as their homes were torn down.
Activists and opposition parties have condemned the eviction as a communal move aimed at displacing marginalized Muslim communities under the guise of land clearance. Human rights organizations have urged the Assam government to halt further demolitions and provide immediate relief to the displaced.
This incident adds to a growing list of controversial eviction drives in Assam that critics say disproportionately affect Muslims, especially those of Bengali origin. The state government, however, continues to justify such actions as necessary for “development” and “restoration of government land.”
