Assam Launches Mega Eviction Drive in Golaghat District
On July 29, 2025, the Assam government kicked off one of its largest eviction operations in recent history. The drive targets nearly 15,000 bighas (around 4,900 acres) of encroached forest land within the Rengma Reserve Forest located in Uriamghat, Golaghat district.
Massive Displacement Expected
Officials estimate that the first phase will impact around 2,000 families, totaling approximately 10,000 people. To enforce the eviction, authorities mobilized more than 1,000 security personnel, including police, commandos, and forest protection forces. They also deployed over 100 bulldozers and excavators to carry out ground operations efficiently.
The forest department divided the reserve into nine blocks and issued seven-day eviction notices to local residents ahead of the operation.
Who’s Affected?
This eviction disproportionately affects Bengali-origin Muslims, who make up the majority of the residents in the targeted area. Officials reported that nearly 90% of affected families have already packed up and vacated their homes. Additionally:
However, the government will not evict 150 Bodo families, as they possess forest rights certificates under the 2006 Forest Rights Act.
Government’s Stand
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma led a two-week campaign ahead of the eviction. He emphasized that this initiative aims to curb what he describes as a “demographic invasion”, referring to large-scale movement of “people of one religion” from Central and Western Assam to the East. According to the administration, encroachers cleared the forest area for widespread betel nut cultivation, thereby jeopardizing ecological stability.
Regional Impact
The eviction has sparked interstate tensions, especially along the Assam-Nagaland border. Responding swiftly, the Nagaland government placed its police and district officials on high alert to prevent potential influx from the evicted zones.
Meanwhile, the Niki Sumi faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) released a statement criticizing the move. They allege that the operation is part of a broader strategy to “occupy” disputed border territories and establish a permanent police presence.
📍 Context and Continuity
This drive marks the latest in a series of eviction campaigns across Assam, many of which have primarily affected Bengali-origin Muslim communities. As tensions rise over land and identity, the state continues to balance ecological conservation, legal enforcement, and social sensitivity.
