The Assam government has launched a major campaign to remove encroachment from forest land since 2016. The BJP government had promised to protect “Jaati, Mati and Bheti” before coming to power. Under this slogan, the first encroachment removal action started in three villages adjoining Kaziranga National Park in September 2016. This step was taken under the order of the Guwahati High Court which directed to clear the forest lands.
When violence and deaths occurred in Garukhuti
When the BJP returned to power for the second time in September 2021 and Himanta Biswa Sarma became the Chief Minister, the campaign started again in the Garukhuti area. During this, two people died in Darrang district. This created an atmosphere of tension in the state. Garukhuti is the same area from where migrant Muslims were removed earlier and now this area is being used under an agricultural project.
Bengali Muslims targeted?
In this entire process, the government was also accused that the real purpose of the campaign was not only to clear the forest land but to target the Bengali Muslim community. Most of the people settled in these areas were those who had come from Bangladesh and were living here and had been occupying the land for many years. They had neither proper documents nor any government security. This also increased social and religious tension.
Concerns and security arrangements of other states
States adjoining Assam like Mizoram, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh have increased surveillance on their borders after this campaign. They fear that people expelled from Assam may enter their borders. Especially in those states where there is already imbalance due to ethnic and religious diversity, such displacement can worsen the situation.
Questions raised on the government due to cow distribution scam
The timing of this campaign was also questioned when there was a flood of corruption allegations in June 2025. Especially the scam related to the purchase and distribution of cows in Garukhuti raised questions on the intentions of the government. People started asking whether this campaign was really to protect the land or an attempt to cover up some scam.
