Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma hints at eviction drive targeting non-indigenous settlers on Guwahati forest land

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the government has done a survey of non-indigenous people staying in forest land in Guwahati while hinting that an eviction drive will be initiated to clear the same.

He said that will soon lessen the burden of Guwahati as the city too is burdened. Talking to media persons, he said, “We have done a survey of non-indigenous people residing in the forest land of Guwahati. We have not surveyed the indigenous people. Those people who have settled in these lands to disturb the demography we have surveyed them. To ascertain the number of such people.”

He added, “Indigenous people will get land right certificates under the Mission Basundhara 3. This survey is only for forest and not revenue land and indigenous people have nothing to worry about. The survey has not included those who have lived here for three generations, and it has nothing to do with religion. Some people are trying to create panic, let's be clear about this that the government will not evict indigenous people. People are with us, they trust and they will not panic.”


The Assam government has launched a series of eviction drives. The Assam government has reclaimed 182 square kilometres of land from encroachers.

Sarma said, “Now these same infiltrators are demanding a separate 'Miya Land' state. Their dream will surely come true - but not in India, but in Bangladesh or Afghanistan. And I will assist them in reaching there.”

Bengali speaking Muslims are often referred as Miya Muslims. Muslims comprise 34% of the 3.12 crore population of Assam, of which 4% are indigenous Assamese Muslims and the remaining mostly Bengali-speaking Muslims.