Staff reporter
Guwahati: A delegation of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP), Assam Legislative Assembly, led by Debabrata Saikia met and submitted a memorandum to the Governor of Assam Lakshman Prasad Acharya at Raj Bhawan on Saturday raising concerns over a series of mass eviction drives being carried out across the state. The party has accused the Assam government of violating constitutional and human rights, particularly of tribals, indigenous communities, erosion-displaced families, and religious minorities.
The memorandum alleges that since 2024, several eviction operations have taken place in violation of judicial orders and constitutional safeguards, especially those under the Sixth Schedule, Forest Rights Act (2006), and the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation (1886). Specific incidents cited include the Sonapur Kachutali eviction, where two villagers were killed and 33 injured during police firing, the Mikir Bamuni Grant (Nagaon) eviction for a solar plant that allegedly violated environmental and tenancy laws, the eviction of erosion-hit families in Hajo-Pub Bongshor, despite pending legal proceedings in the Gauhati High Court.
Large-scale evictions in Karbi Anglong, Phuloni, Kokrajhar, and Umrongso, including the removal of over 10,000 tribals and the transfer of 9,000 bighas of land without Gram Sabha consultation or Sixth Schedule compliance.
The Congress memorandum also highlights fresh eviction operations in Bakrikuchi (Nalbari), Alomganj (Dhubri), Goalpara, Lakhimpur, and Hajo, affecting thousands of people, many of whom possess official land certificates or have resided on the land for decades.
The party condemned the alleged bypassing of standard operating procedures (SOPs), terming the drives as “inhumane and unconstitutional,” and pointed out the contradiction between the government’s promises under Mission Basundhara 3.0 and its actions on the ground.
In response, the Congress has urged the Governor to immediately halt all eviction drives targeting indigenous, tribal, and erosion-affected communities and also to set up an independent inquiry commission into evictions since 2022. Ensure autonomous councils and district administrations follow PESA and Sixth Schedule norms. Publish a land regularisation policy distinguishing long-settled residents from illegal encroachers. Guarantee rehabilitation measures aligned with India’s constitutional and international obligations.
An annexure to the memorandum proposed a 10-point “Charter for Humane and Lawful Eviction Policy,” demanding legal safeguards, rehabilitation, public consultation, transparency, and ecological protection.
The Congress appealed to the Governor as the “constitutional conscience of the state” to intervene and prevent what it described as the erosion of human dignity and land rights in Assam.
Also Read: Eviction will continue to safeguard land, people & heritage: BJP
Also Watch: