The Assam government launched a major forest land removal operation in Goalpara district on Sunday. Approximately 1,140 bighas (over 376 acres) of land in the Dahikata Reserve Forest area is being cleared of encroachments. According to the administration, approximately 580 families had occupied this land. Goalpara Deputy Commissioner Pradeep Timung stated that these families were issued notices 15 days ago to vacate the area. He said that approximately 70 percent of the families have voluntarily left the area after receiving the notices, while the remaining families are in the process of evacuating their homes.
Operation underway without protest, administration deploys heavy security
DC Pradeep Timung stated that the administration has deployed adequate security forces to ensure a peaceful operation. Additionally, dozens of JCBs and tractors have been deployed to demolish the encroached homes. He explained that the area has been divided into five blocks, of which approximately 80 percent of the residents have already left in four blocks, while some residents remain in one block. Timung said the action is being carried out under the directives of the Guwahati High Court. Three petitions related to the matter have already been heard in the High Court. The administration says that if everything goes as planned, the drive will be completed in a single day.
Locals allege – “We are not encroachers, we have been living here for decades.”
Abdul Karim, one of the affected residents, said that he and his family have been living in the area for decades. He questioned why the government provided them with electricity, toilets, and other government amenities if they were truly encroachers. He said, “We have Aadhaar cards and land documents, yet we are being labeled outsiders.” According to officials, most of the encroachers belong to the Bengali-speaking Muslim community. Meanwhile, Special Chief Secretary (Forests) M.K. Yadav explained that the area being removed from encroachments falls within the Elephant Corridor. He said clearing the land will help reduce human-wildlife conflict.
CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “Illegal Miyans will not be able to live in peace.”
Since the government led by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma came to power in Assam, such encroachment removal drives have been ongoing. In most cases, the affected people belong to the Bengali-speaking Muslim community, known locally as “Miyans.” While the term was previously used derogatoryly, many in the community have now adopted it as a symbol of self-respect. CM Sarma recently said, “Illegal Miyans will not be able to live in peace under our government.” He also claimed that while 1.29 lakh bighas (over 42,500 acres) of land had been freed from encroachment in the past four years, about 29 lakh bighas (over 9.5 lakh acres) were still under illegal occupation. Sarma said most of these lands were occupied by illegal Bangladeshis and suspicious nationals.
