Assam: Eviction Panic in Lumding as Over 300 Residents Face Displacement Without Relief

HOJAI: In a significant move, more than 250 shopkeepers and 50 families in Lumding are facing the threat of displacement after the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) issued eviction notices, demanding they vacate land within 15 days for the proposed double-line railway expansion project between Lumding and Tinsukia. The sudden notice has triggered widespread anxiety and fear among the affected residents, many of whom have lived on the land for generations.

The area includes long-standing businesses, family homes, and even a Namghar (community prayer hall) established in 1960, which locals say has been central to their cultural life. Some residents claim their families have occupied the land since as early as 1880, with no prior eviction warning issued until now. “This is not just land; it’s our life. We have nowhere else to go,” said a distressed shopkeeper, echoing the sentiment of many.

In response, representatives from the community, including the Namghar committee, met with Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Samir Lohani to request either cancellation of the eviction or the provision of alternate land. However, railway sources confirmed that no rehabilitation or resettlement plan is currently in place.

Appeals to local leaders, including Hojai MLA Shibu Mishra, went unanswered. Former MLA Shiladitya Dev, now chairman of the Assam Linguistic Minority Board, intervened and met with the DRM, urging a reconsideration. With the deadline approaching, residents are calling for urgent intervention to prevent what they fear could become a humanitarian and cultural crisis.

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