ISLAMABAD: Authorities in India’s Assam state have demolished hundreds of houses, mostly belonging to Muslim families, over encroachment claims, according to Indian media.
The demolition drive, carried out in the Azara area of Kamrup district on Saturday, affected nearly 500 houses spread across approximately 737 bighas (around 245 acres).
According to authorities, the land is legally reserved for tribal communities, and only those belonging to these groups, or residents who settled there before the area received tribal belt status, are permitted to occupy it.
On the other hand, those displaced, primarily Bengali-speaking Muslims, said they had lived in the area for nearly two decades after being forced to relocate due to floods and river erosion. The residents said they had received government assistance during the period, which they argue shows their presence was known to officials.
Videos circulating online showed bulldozers tearing down bamboo-thatched homes while women and children stood nearby, as police personnel monitored the operation.
The Assam government claims that the initiative is aimed at protecting tribal lands, forests, and wildlife areas from illegal occupation. However, the operation has drawn strong criticism.
Human rights advocates and opposition voices have labeled the demolitions as “bulldozer politics,” arguing that they disproportionately impact vulnerable Muslim communities, many of whom were already displaced and lack alternative housing options.
The issue has also been intensified by recent remarks from Himanta Biswa Sarma. Speaking at an election rally in Khanapara, Kamrup, he praised ongoing eviction efforts and vowed to reclaim land allegedly occupied by what he described as “illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators” if re-elected in the upcoming assembly elections.
His speech included aggressive rhetoric, with warnings directed at those opposing the government’s actions and assertions that no “Bangladeshi” would be allowed to occupy land in the state.
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