DHUBRI, ASSAM — Hundreds of homes were bulldozed Nov 1 in Alamganj Part-IX village, Gauripur Revenue Circle, Dhubri district, in one of Assam's largest eviction drives this year.
District Commissioner Dibakar Nath said apparently the operation cleared 650 bighas (∼215 acres) of government khas land that had been occupied by about 550-640 families. Official estimate: 4,000-4,500 people displaced, though local media and residents put it at 750 families.
Local media says most are Bengali-speaking Muslims.
How it happened:
-50-60 excavators/bulldozers and heavy police deployed from 7:30 am Sunday
- Notices had been served for 800 bighas, but 150 bighas (160 families) were excluded as cases pending before Gauhati High Court. Next hearing: Nov 13
- Administration says 80% had dismantled houses themselves after month-long notice. The 3-month process included show-cause notices, hearings, verification
- Vacated land to be handed to Industries Dept for an industrial park, officials said.
Residents dispute 'encroacher' tag:
Many say they lived there for decades after being displaced by Brahmaputra floods and erosion. Ali Chand Fakir, 80, said he settled in 1962 after leaving Goalpara. Some showed touzi receipts of land revenue paid 1972-2016.
"Today, bulldozers flattened the three houses, trees, toilets," residents told Scroll.
Families now shelter with relatives, under tarpaulins by roadsides, or in char (riverine islands). A mosque and other structures were also demolished.
Political fallout:
CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, sharing Al Jazeera's report that headlined "Thousands displaced as homes are bulldozed", posted on X: “More to come. We will not stop till every inch of our land is reclaimed. Encroachers in Dhubri – It's done bro!”
Activists announced a protest in New Delhi on Nov 14 demanding rehabilitation. MLA Akhil Gogoi was detained trying to reach site.
Context: Since BJP government under Sarma took charge in 2021, Assam has carried out 33 documented eviction drives, displacing 20,387 families / over 1 lakh people per New Humanitarian investigation. Govt revenue data compiled by Scroll says ∼19,000 families, mostly Muslim, evicted from government land in past decade.
Gauhati High Court previously called a Goalpara eviction "illegal and unauthorized" — now all eyes on Nov 13 hearing.