Emotional scenes unfolded during a major eviction drive in Assam’s Dhubri district on Sunday as authorities deployed more than 50 bulldozers to clear alleged encroachments from government land at Alomganj Part-IX. A woman reportedly fainted after witnessing the demolition of her house, while several residents broke down in tears as the operation progressed.
The eviction drive began around 6 am under heavy police deployment. Residents were seen offering prayers at a mosque and gathering near a local shrine, seeking divine intervention as bulldozers demolished houses and other structures in the area.
According to the district administration, around 650 bighas of government land are being cleared in Alomganj out of a total 800 bighas identified as khas land. Dhubri Deputy Commissioner Dibakar Nath said nearly 550 families, comprising an estimated 4,000 to 4,500 people, had been living on the land.
Speaking to reporters at the site, Nath said Alomganj Part-IX was prioritised because it contained the largest portion of the government land identified for eviction.
“So far, we are focused on Alomganj Part-IX, where the maximum khas land is located. There are a few cases pending in the High Court, and after those are resolved, further action can be taken in other areas,” he said.
The Deputy Commissioner stated that the administration had followed a lengthy legal process before carrying out the eviction. The procedure included issuing show-cause notices, conducting hearings, examining documents submitted by occupants, passing speaking orders and granting residents one month to vacate the land.
The administration also issued eviction notices, made public announcements through loudspeakers and marked structures identified for demolition.
Nath said nearly 80 per cent of the residents had vacated the area before the operation and had taken away their belongings. Some families reportedly shifted to land they had purchased elsewhere, while others moved in with relatives.
However, several residents challenged the eviction in court and sought legal relief. The next hearing in the matter is scheduled for November 13.
Many affected families had earlier appealed for rehabilitation and alternative accommodation. Some residents claimed they had purchased the land from private individuals and were unaware that it was government property. Responding to these claims, Nath said the sale of government land is illegal and urged anyone with evidence of such transactions to approach the administration.
The district administration maintained that the land belongs to the government and that the eviction was being carried out in accordance with the law. Officials said the operation was proceeding peacefully, with no major protests reported.
The eviction drive comes a day after a woman allegedly died following the receipt of an eviction notice. Residents claimed the uncertainty surrounding the proposed eviction had caused her severe distress. However, any direct connection between the notice and her death has not been independently established.
