In a large-scale eviction drive on Tuesday, the Assam government cleared nearly 3,500 bighas of government land across the villages of Charuwa-Bakhra, Santoshpur, and Chirakuta—around 55 km from Dhubri town—forcing more than 2,000 families from their homes.
Many of these families claim that they had been residing on the land for several years, some for decades, before being uprooted as part of the state’s plan to repurpose the area for industrial development.
The eviction, carried out with the help of heavy machinery including bulldozers, saw several decades-old homes razed to the ground.
While many residents, anticipating the drive, had dismantled their homes and relocated voluntarily, tensions flared on the ground as others resisted.
The cleared land is part of a larger tract earmarked for a proposed thermal power project by a leading industrial group, being developed in collaboration with the Assam Power Development Corporation Limited (APDCL).
The move comes amid ongoing state-wide land reforms and industrial expansion initiatives spearheaded by the Assam government.
District officials stated that the families were living on government-owned land without legal rights. In response to public outcry, the administration announced a one-time compensation package of Rs 50,000 per evicted family.
Authorities also indicated that landless families would be considered for rehabilitation at Boyjer-Alga, under the jurisdiction of the Athani Revenue Circle.
However, the announcement did little to quell growing resentment. Protests erupted at the eviction sites, with angry locals blocking roads and accusing the government of forceful displacement without adequate compensation or prior rehabilitation. Law enforcement had to intervene as the situation turned volatile.
Superintendent of Police Leena Doley rushed to the area and took direct charge of the situation, working to de-escalate tensions amid scuffles between protesters and security personnel.
The atmosphere grew more charged with the arrival of independent MLA Akhil Gogoi, who attempted to visit the eviction sites.
Police detained Gogoi at the Chapar Police Station, citing concerns that his presence was instigating unrest. Officials claimed that while most families had been preparing to vacate, Gogoi’s visit led a section of people to intensify resistance.
The Dhubri eviction is one of the largest in recent months and underscores a growing trend of land clearance operations tied to industrial projects across Assam.