Mass Eviction Drive in Nagaon: What’s Next for 1,500 East Bengal Origin Families in Assam?

A large-scale eviction drive commenced today in Nagaon district to remove encroachments from approximately 795 hectares of reserved forest land, officials said. 

The eviction operation, conducted under tight security, commenced in the Lutimari area early this morning.

Sources say the administration had served notices to residents three months prior, initially allowing two months to vacate. Following appeals from some occupants, the deadline was extended by another month.

According to officials, more than 1,100 families, living in both pucca and kuccha houses, have already dismantled their structures and relocated. Demolition of the remaining homes is reportedly ongoing.

Some residents, however, claim to have lived in the area for over 40 years and insist they were unaware that the land was designated as reserved forest.

Earlier, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma noted that since May 2021, over 160 square kilometres of encroached land have been reclaimed across the state, displacing more than 50,000 people. The eviction drives, temporarily paused in between, resumed on June 16, resulting in the displacement of over 5,000 families.

Most of those affected are from the East Bengal Origin Muslim community. Many in this group say their ancestors settled in these areas after losing land in riverine ‘char’ regions due to erosion of the Brahmaputra.

The operation has reignited discussions on balancing forest conservation with the rehabilitation of displaced communities, highlighting the ongoing challenges of managing human settlements in ecologically sensitive areas.

Also Read: Assam: Massive eviction drive scheduled in Nagaon’s Lutumari forest area