Assam: Massive eviction drive begins amidst protest in Dhubri

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GUWAHATI/DHUBRI: The Dhubri District Administration started a massive eviction drive in the Chapor area in the district amidst protest from the settlers today.

The administration has set a target of making 3,500 bighas of land free from encroachment for the setting up of a power project there, for which a memorandum of understanding was signed during Advantage Assam 2.0.

With the administration issuing prior notice to the settlers to vacate the land on their own by July 6, 2026, a section of settlers from Santoshpur, Soruabakhra, and Chirakut in the area vacated the land on their own, while others opted to stay put there.

Today’s eviction drive had an adequate number of security personnel and excavators. During the eviction drive, a section of irate settlers attacked the excavators and damaged a few of them. The police resorted to a baton charge to disperse the mob.

Following protests against the eviction drive from various quarters, Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma made it crystal clear that the eviction drive would go ahead. The government will vacate the encroached lands, come what may, he said. “The administration is ready for a massive eviction drive at Paikan in the Goalpara district on July 10,” he said.

Speaking in favour of the eviction drive, state BJP president Dilip Saikia said, “To protect Assam, the administration has to make the lands of the indigenous people of the state free from encroachment. During the Congress regime in the state, many people of Bangladesh origin encroached upon lands in Assam.”

A section of the settlers evicted from the area said that they had been living there for generations. They also said that they are erosion-affected landless people who have no lands elsewhere in the state.

 Also Read: Locals protest eviction drive in Dhubri, vow to protect patta land

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