Tensions rise in Assam's Dhubri district amid eviction drive and clashes

Tension is running high in Assam’s Dhubri district following an eviction drive carried out by the state government on Tuesday. Groups of alleged encroachers clashed with security personnel and attacked government officials.

MLA Akhil Gogoi, who attempted to visit the eviction site, was detained by police. He was stopped from entering the restricted area and taken into preventive custody.

The incident took place at Charua Bakra area under Chapar in Dhubri district where the administration sought to clear an illegal encroachment on approximately 3500 bighas of land.


Hundreds of people came out to the streets as excavators and backhoe machines arrived the areas at Charuwa Bakra, Chirakuta and Santoshpur villages and attacked the excavator and machineries with pelting stones and using brickbats against the officials and police personnel who had gone to clear the government land of illegal encroachment.

The administration, however, said that these are the government lands under encroachment and that they had been served eviction notice well in advance. Eligible people in the area had also been given compensation.
“However, some people got angry and refused to vacate their houses leading to little unwanted situations. Some groups of people have also pelted stones to the excavators partially damaging the two excavators,” said Sashee Bhushan Raj Konwar, the Circle Officer of Chapar.

“Our target was to clear the 3500 bighas of land. We have cleared almost 100 percent of the encroached lands. I am waiting for the final report,” Raj Knowar.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had last month visited the areas and said that a thermal power plant will be established in the area, which will generate about 3400 MW of power.

Sarma indicated that he is visiting the areas, and it could be a potential location for the state's upcoming power generation project.

Sivasagar MLA and leader of Raijor Dal Akhi Gogoi arrived at the place of the proposed eviction in Chapar on Tuesday and demanded the government to allot 500 bighas of land for rehabilitation of the evicted people.

He was later whisked away by the police from the area and taken to Chapar police station.

The chief minister said, “Around 90 percent by themselves have left the place. There was resistance from only 10 percent of people. Akhil Gogoi has his line of thinking, and we have ours. We are always for indigenous people while Akhil stands for a special community.”