Homeless After Eviction: Rehabilitation Demand Grows in Assam's Burha Chapori

The eviction drive at Burha Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary entered its second day on Tuesday, with the Sonitpur district administration resuming operations to clear the remaining encroached areas inside the protected forest.

Officials said nearly 40 per cent of the encroached land was reclaimed on the first day, and eviction was underway in the remaining portions on Tuesday.

According to the administration, around 6,200 bighas of forest land had been illegally occupied for years, where encroachers had constructed houses and carried out agricultural activities.

A total of 710 families were served eviction notices on November 24. While some families dismantled their structures and vacated voluntarily, several others resisted, prompting the administration to carry out forced eviction under tight security arrangements. The drive is being conducted across Batoli Chapori, Arimari Char, Ganesh Tapu Char and Lathimari Char.

Meanwhile, the Asom Sankhyalaghu Sangram Parishad (ASSP) has demanded proper rehabilitation for those affected by the eviction.

Speaking to the media, Safiqul Islam, district president of ASSP (Nagaon unit), said, “Around 6,200 bighas of land that were under illegal occupation are now being cleared by the administration, and the drive is expected to be completed by tomorrow. So far, there has been no law-and-order issue, and the process has remained peaceful.”

However, Islam expressed concern over the impact of the eviction on families who, he claimed, had been residing in the area for decades.

“Many of the evicted families depended entirely on agriculture for their livelihood. The sudden eviction has brought their lives to a standstill. They are now homeless and helpless, with no alternative shelter,” he said, demanding immediate rehabilitation.

Alleging procedural lapses, Islam added, “The state government has failed to follow standard operating procedures, which mandate rehabilitation before eviction. Moreover, the drive appears to have disproportionately targeted minority people of suspected ‘Miya’ origin, which we believe amounts to a violation of human rights.”

The organisation condemned the eviction drive and urged the government to “stop political gimmicks and immediately allot land to the displaced families.”

The district administration, however, maintained that the eviction was necessary to restore protected forest land and ensure the long-term conservation of the ecologically sensitive Burha Chapori Wildlife Sanctuary.

Also Read: Forest Land, No Rights… But They Settled Anyway: Eviction Underway in Assam's Burha Chapori