Anger and frustration erupted in Guwahati’s Sachal area on Friday as thousands staged a massive protest demanding land rights, compensation, and proper rehabilitation for families evicted from the Silsako Beel area three years ago. The demonstration, led by affected residents, echoed with slogans like “Give us our land back, let us return home!” Protestors accused the Assam government of reneging on its promise to resettle displaced indigenous families while allegedly granting land to large corporations and politically influential individuals.
In 2021, the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led government evicted 1,203 households—mostly from the indigenous Kachari community—as part of a wetlands restoration initiative. Since then, victims claim they’ve been left homeless, receiving neither compensation nor alternative housing. Protestors recalled how the Chief Minister promised early rehabilitation but privately urged them to stay silent. “We believed him, but nothing came,” said one protestor.
Demonstrators slammed the government’s double standards, citing resettlement in Garukhuti, Kaziranga, and Dhubri, even for alleged Bangladeshi migrants, while indigenous people remain ignored. Accusations of land misuse by ministers and corporate favoritism further fueled outrage. Community leaders warned this protest was only the beginning, vowing to escalate if demands remain unmet.
