Assam’s Eviction Drives: The Struggle of Bengali-Muslims Uprooted in Their Own Land
A State at the Crossroads of Identity and Land
Assam, the gateway to India’s Northeast, has always been a region where questions of land, identity, and belonging are sharply contested. With its fertile river valleys, vast floodplains, and shifting population dynamics, the state has witnessed decades of anxiety over who counts as “Assamese” and who is considered an outsider. Against this backdrop, the recent eviction drives that have displaced thousands of Bengali-speaking Muslims stand out not only as administrative measures but also as deeply political acts that shape the social fabric of the state.
Eviction Drives in Numbers
In recent years, the Assam government has carried out large-scale eviction operations, often citing “encroachment” on government or forest land as the justification. These actions, however, disproportionately affect Bengali-origin Muslim families who have lived in Assam for generations.
- In August 2025, over 309 families were evicted from 23 hectares in Japariguri.
- In Goalpara district, another 667 families — mostly Bengali-speaking Muslims — were forced to leave more than 600 bighas of land. Schools and community structures were demolished in the process.
- Civil society groups estimate that since 2021, more than 50,000 people have been uprooted through similar operations across the state.
Many of these families now live in makeshift shelters on riverbanks or open fields, exposed to floods, disease, and the constant fear of further displacement.
The Human Cost of Uprooting
For the families affected, eviction is more than the loss of a house. It is the erasure of an entire way of life. Villagers report that they had tilled the same soil for decades, raised children in those homes, and even paid local taxes — yet one morning bulldozers arrived, guarded by armed police, leaving them homeless.
Women and Children at the Forefront of Suffering
Displacement hits the most vulnerable first. Women and children are often left without shelter, education, or healthcare. Reports have described infants lying in open fields and mothers struggling to find food or water for their families. Schools have been demolished along with homes, depriving children of continuity in education.
Fear and Violence
Some eviction drives have turned deadly. During past operations, police firing led to the deaths of civilians, including two teenagers and a 33-year-old laborer, Moinul Haque, whose killing in 2021 became a symbol of the brutality associated with these actions. The trauma of violence continues to haunt displaced communities, deepening mistrust of the state.
Loss of Legal and Political Identity
For many, eviction compounds another existential threat: disenfranchisement. Names struck off voter rolls, lack of citizenship documents, and the shadow of being branded “illegal immigrants” leave these communities politically powerless. Without proper legal aid, challenging eviction notices or proving land rights is nearly impossible.
Why Bengali-Muslims?
The targeting of Bengali-speaking Muslims must be understood in the wider history of Assam’s politics. For decades, anxieties over migration — especially from Bangladesh — have shaped public debates. The Assam Accord of 1985, the contentious National Register of Citizens (NRC), and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) all reflect long-standing struggles over identity.
Bengali-origin Muslims, often pejoratively called Miya, are frequently portrayed as “outsiders,” even when their families have lived in Assam for generations. This perception has made them vulnerable to policies and actions that treat them as encroachers rather than citizens.
Government Justification vs. Human Rights Concerns
The State’s Argument
The Assam government defends the eviction drives as lawful acts meant to reclaim government and forest land from illegal occupation. Officials argue that protecting natural resources and preventing unchecked encroachment is essential for the state’s future.
Critics’ Counterpoint
Human rights activists and civil society groups counter that the evictions often violate constitutional guarantees. The Supreme Court of India has laid down clear norms: residents must receive fair notice, hearings, and alternative resettlement options. Yet, in Assam, bulldozers arrive with little warning, and rehabilitation is either absent or inadequate.
Critics argue that these actions amount to selective targeting of minorities, undermining the principles of equality, dignity, and justice enshrined in the Indian Constitution.
The Social and Psychological Impact
Beyond physical displacement, eviction inflicts deep psychological wounds. Entire communities feel stigmatized, branded as “illegal” in their own homeland. This fuels alienation and erodes trust in democratic institutions. Social networks disintegrate as families scatter, and with the loss of schools, mosques, and community centers, cultural life also suffers.
A Larger Political Game?
Observers note that eviction drives often intensify ahead of elections. Displacement of Bengali-Muslim communities shifts local demographics and voting patterns, raising concerns that these operations are not merely administrative but also political. Critics allege that by rendering sections of the population stateless or rootless, the state consolidates its hold over the electorate.
The Road Ahead
The struggle of Bengali-Muslims in Assam raises pressing questions about the nature of citizenship, justice, and belonging in India’s democracy.
- Legal Safeguards must be upheld, with proper hearings, documentation checks, and fair compensation or resettlement.
- Rehabilitation Measures are urgently needed to prevent displaced families from sliding into deeper poverty and instability.
- Inclusive Dialogue is essential to move beyond decades of suspicion and fear. Only through recognizing the shared history and contributions of Bengali-speaking Muslims can Assam hope to heal its divides.
- Accountability must be established for violent or unlawful evictions, ensuring that human rights violations are not repeated.
The eviction drives in Assam are not just about land; they are about identity, belonging, and the survival of a marginalized community. For the Bengali-Muslims being uprooted, each demolished house represents not only a lost shelter but also a shattered dream of dignity and security in the land they call home.
Their struggle is a stark reminder that the promises of democracy mean little if the weakest remain perpetually at risk of being erased from the map.
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