Rights groups raise alarm over timing and targeted action during monsoon season
GOALPARA – In a sweeping demolition drive that began early Monday, authorities razed around 700 homes in a Muslim-majority locality in Goalpara district, displacing thousands of Bengali-speaking Muslims during the peak of the rainy season. The action, carried out with bulldozers and a heavy police presence, has drawn sharp criticism from opposition leaders and human rights activists, who accuse the state of systematically targeting Muslims under the pretext of encroachment.
The demolition drive began at 6 am on 16 June in the Hasila Beel area, and continued into Tuesday. Officials claim the land, encompassing nearly 16,000 bighas, was illegally encroached upon and designated as a wetland. But residents say they have lived there for decades, some tracing their presence to over 70 years.
“We were not even given time to remove our belongings,” said Rehmat Ali, 63, standing beside the remains of what was once his family home. “In this rain, we are forced to sleep under plastic sheets. Where do we go now?”
According to the District Commissioner of Goalpara, notices were served to the residents in 2023 and 2024, warning them of the impending eviction. However, local sources claim the majority of people had no alternative housing and were left completely homeless overnight.
The demolitions have intensified concerns over alleged targeted harassment of Muslims in Assam under the BJP-led government of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The All Assam Minority Students’ Union (AAMSU) has called the move part of a broader agenda of “ethnic cleansing under legal camouflage.”
“First, they label people as D-Voters, then they detain them, and now they bulldoze their homes,” said Aminul Haque Chowdhury, a local AAMSU leader. “This government is clearly targeting Muslims. If this is not oppression, then what is?”
He added, “We appeal to both Hindus and Muslims of the state to raise their voice together against this injustice. This is not just about religion — it’s about humanity.”
The demolitions have taken place during Assam’s monsoon season, a time when the region experiences regular flood-like conditions. Many families, including women, children, and the elderly, are now living in makeshift shelters exposed to nature’s vagaries.
“How can the administration be so cruel?” asked Nazma Bibi, a mother of four. “The rain is constant, the children are sick, and we don’t even have a dry piece of land to sit on.”
Medical volunteers visiting the area reported cases of fever, diarrhoea, and dehydration among children. Civil society groups have warned that without urgent intervention, the crisis could spiral into a humanitarian disaster.
Goalpara East legislator AK Rashid Alam condemned the demolitions and has written to the District Commissioner demanding immediate rehabilitation of the affected families.
“These people are not criminals,” he said. “They have been living here for generations. The state cannot just destroy homes and leave people in the open like this.”
Alam accused the administration of carrying out the drive without adequate preparation or alternative arrangements for the displaced. “If the land is disputed, resolve it in court,” he added. “This is not the way to treat citizens.”
This is not the first time the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led government has faced criticism for bulldozer-led demolitions. Earlier this year, the government was accused of pushing thousands of Bengali-origin Muslims into ‘no man’s land’ under the pretext of identifying “Doubtful Voters” or “D-Voters” — a controversial category used to mark individuals whose citizenship is under question.
Critics say these actions form part of a broader campaign to marginalise Muslims in Assam, who have long faced suspicion and systemic discrimination, especially those who speak Bengali.
When asked about the Goalpara demolitions, the chief minister’s office declined to comment.
The administration claims that the Hasila Beel area is an ecologically sensitive wetland, and the settlement constitutes illegal encroachment. However, locals insist that the land has been used for farming and residential purposes for decades, and many possess ration cards, electricity bills, and other documentation proving long-term residence.
“We are not encroachers,” said Mubarak Hussain, 51, a schoolteacher whose house was among those destroyed. “We voted here, paid taxes here, and our children were born here. But now, suddenly, they say we are illegal.”
Legal experts point out that even if the land is disputed, the state has a constitutional obligation to rehabilitate displaced persons, especially vulnerable populations.
“This kind of eviction during monsoon, without any resettlement plan, clearly violates human rights,” said Neha Mahanta, a Guwahati-based lawyer. “It raises questions not just about legality, but about the moral compass of the administration.”
The incident is likely to spark wider political and legal battles, as opposition parties and civil society organisations prepare to take the matter to court. Rights groups have already approached the Assam Human Rights Commission, while appeals to national and international bodies are being drafted.
“This is not just an Assam issue — it’s a national disgrace,” said Afreen Qadri, spokesperson of the rights group “Citizens for Justice and Democracy.” “We will ensure that this reaches the highest levels of scrutiny.”
