Since November 1, eviction operations carried out by the Assam government have rendered more than 4,000 people, mostly Bengali-speaking Muslims, homeless following the demolition of homes belonging to at least 750 families
NEW DELHI — In a distressing scene from Assam’s Dhubri district, a mosque in the Alamganj-Rangamati area was demolished during an ongoing eviction drive, leaving local worshippers to offer prayers amid the rubble of what was once their place of worship.
Visuals from the area show worshippers gathering among broken bricks, concrete debris and the remains of the mosque, continuing their prayers despite the destruction around them. The scenes have raised concerns over the impact of the state government’s anti-encroachment operations on the homes, livelihoods and religious spaces of ordinary people.
According to reports circulating on X, an adjoining madrasa was also demolished during the eviction operation. The destruction of the religious structures has added another dimension to an eviction drive that has already left thousands of people struggling with the loss of their homes and belongings.
Since November 1, eviction operations carried out by the Assam government have rendered more than 4,000 people homeless, following the demolition of homes belonging to at least 750 families. Bengali-speaking Muslims constitute a significant proportion of those affected.
Estimates suggest that around 650 bighas of land have been cleared using more than 50 bulldozers and excavators. For those who have lost their homes, the demolition of a place of worship represents an additional emotional and religious loss.
Videos of the demolition have gone viral on social media, prompting users to express anguish and grief over the destruction.
Reacting to the visuals, one user on X wrote, “It is shocking to think that these innocent people are being attacked by this Hindutva regime in their own country simply because of their religious identity.”
Another user criticised the demolition, writing, “Bulldozer drive continues as Muslims are forced to face BJP’s oppression. This is the condition of Modi’s secular India where Muslims are offering prayers amid the rubble of the mosque.”
Meanwhile, the Gauhati High Court is scheduled to hear the matter concerning the demolitions on November 13. A protest against the eviction drive is also planned in New Delhi on November 14.
The demolition in Alamganj-Rangamati comes amid a wider series of anti-encroachment operations across Assam. On November 8, another eviction operation was carried out in Lakhimpur, where concrete structures were demolished using a JCB excavator. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma shared a video of the operation on social media, describing it as “Ghar Ki Safai” (cleaning the house) ahead of Diwali.
His “Ghar Ki Safai” remark also drew criticism on social media, with several users questioning the Chief Minister’s choice of words as families watched their homes being demolished.
Reacting to the video, one user wrote, “Is he mentally sick? Video first shows a Muslim man standing helplessly watching his house being bulldozed & the CM of state writes we are celebrating Diwali by destroying someone’s home!! What an achievement.”
Another user accused the Chief Minister of celebrating the displacement of poor families, writing, “Assam’s Chief Minister is celebrating the destruction of poor Muslims’ homes and the displacement of their families. He sees political victory in the ruined lives of innocent people. When those in power celebrate the suffering of the poor, it shows how justice and humanity are being crushed under the feet of politics.”
A third user questioned the Chief Minister’s remarks, linking them to the broader political context of the eviction drive.
“A bulldozer is demolishing a Muslim family’s home, and this shameless man is calling it cleaning up the house. Everyone used to live here peacefully, then a Muslim leader came along and started saying, ‘Abdul won’t lay out the rug anymore.’ The Muslim vote got split, and the BJP managed to form a government,” the user wrote.
“So far, hundreds of innocent people’s homes in Assam have been bulldozed,” the user added.
