“Targeted for Being Muslim,” Cries of Anguish Rise from Evicted Families in Assam's Goalpara

A large-scale eviction drive began early Sunday morning at the Dahikata Reserve Forest in Assam’s Goalpara district, triggering chaos, tears, and political outrage.

The operation, aimed at reclaiming 1,143 bighas of encroached forest land, is being carried out under tight security, with the administration deploying bulldozers, excavators, and a massive force of over 900 personnel, including police, paramilitary units, forest guards, and commandos.

According to reports, the two-day eviction drive—continuing through November 9 and 10—follows a directive from Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who recently reiterated his government’s determination to clear all encroachments on forest land.

On the ground, distress and despair filled the air. “We are being evicted just because we are Muslims,” alleged one woman, clutching a child beside her demolished home. Another resident sobbed, saying, “We were born here. Our parents and grandparents lived here. Now, our houses are gone—where will we go?”

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Several families were seen dismantling their own tin-roofed houses in fear of the approaching bulldozers. Many complained that the government had made no provisions for relocation or rehabilitation, leaving hundreds, including children and the elderly, without shelter.

An elderly resident who claimed to have lived in Dahikata since childhood said, “This land is our only home. If we had other land, we wouldn’t be here. Now we have nowhere to go.”

Earlier this week, CM Sarma, during a Facebook Live session, rejected speculation that the eviction might be delayed. He stated, “Certain groups are conspiring to stop eviction drives. They once plotted to turn Assam into another Nepal. But we will not let Assam become Nepal, and the eviction will not stop.”

Meanwhile, the All Assam Minority Students’ Union (AAMSU) launched a fierce attack on the Chief Minister, accusing the government of targeting one particular community. AAMSU President Rezaul Karim Sarkar said,
“How long will the government continue this oppression—snatching people’s food, clothing, and shelter? The Chief Minister has violated the Constitution. If the people cannot live in peace, the ruler too will not remain at peace.”

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AAMSU further alleged that the eviction was being conducted “in an aggressive and discriminatory manner”, with a clear intent to marginalize a specific group.

The Forest Department, however, maintained that the operation is part of its long-term conservation and ecological restoration plan to reclaim the Dahikata Reserve Forest, which has faced steady encroachment over the past decade.

As bulldozers rolled into Dahikata and families scrambled to save their belongings, Goalpara remained tense, with widespread concern over humanitarian fallout and the political ramifications of yet another controversial eviction drive in Assam.