Civil society sounds alarm over extrimist-backed land encroachment in Sivasagar

OUR CORRESPONDENT

SIVASAGAR: For decades, a network of illegal foreign-backed extremist groups has been stealthily encroaching on valuable lands across Assam, targeting forests, religious sites, riverine areas, and urban outskirts. In response, the Assam Government recently took legal action to reclaim these lands and restore the rights of indigenous communities. People across the state, regardless of ethnicity or religion, have shown strong support for the government’s decisive steps to safeguard indigenous rights, identity, and existence. Historically, indigenous Assamese Muslims in Upper Assam have lived peacefully with other communities, upholding harmony and brotherhood. Their role in maintaining unity has been recognized as exemplary across India. These indigenous Muslims have consistently stood against illegal immigration, foreign-backed extremist forces, and infiltration attempts supported by Pakistan and Bangladesh. As a result, Upper Assam has remained free from violent communal unrest despite various conspiracies over the years.

However, there is now growing concern over recent developments in the heritage-rich town of Sivasagar. A group of disguised extremist sympathizers, aligned with hardline Islamist ideologies, has reportedly become active in the region. These elements are accused of trying to disrupt the peaceful social fabric of Sivasagar and Upper Assam by inciting tension between Hindu and Muslim communities through misinformation, manipulation, and covert tactics.

Multiple community groups and social organizations in Upper Assam have expressed deep alarm over attempts to polarize the region using distorted narratives and false propaganda. Monirul Islam Bora, senior journalist and president of the Ujoni Axom Muslim Kalyan Parishad, emphasized that indigenous Assamese Muslims have always opposed illegal immigration and extremist infiltration. He noted that these locals participated in the broader struggle to protect Assam’s identity and land. Bora warned that a few disguised extremist elements and their supporting organizations are now trying to manufacture unrest in the name of opposing the government, especially in Sivasagar and surrounding areas.

Disturbingly, Bora stated that these groups have also targeted respected members of traditional Muslim families in Sivasagar, spreading slander and abuse on social media to sow division. He issued a strong warning against these forces, comparing them to a dangerous offshoot of terror ideologies, and called on India’s Ministry of Home Affairs, Assam’s Home Department, intelligence agencies, and the police to closely monitor their activities.

Meanwhile, both the Nikhil Assam Samajwadi Janaganatantrik Ganaswaraj Party and the Indian Patriotic Federation (IPF-Socialist) have expressed alarm over the growing presence of such disguised fundamentalist elements in historic Sivasagar. In a press statement, senior journalist and State Coordinator Pranjal Rajguru urged the authorities to ensure that extremist forces, possibly supported by hidden interests in Pakistan and Bangladesh, cannot destroy this unity and use unrest as a tool for political gamesmanship.

Rajguru also extended support, on behalf of both organizations, for the Assam Government’s ongoing legal efforts to reclaim vast tracts of forest land, agricultural land, and religious sites that were previously under illegal occupation.

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