GUWAHATI: A large-scale eviction operation was carried out at Hasila Beel in Assam’s Goalpara district on Monday, June 16, leading to the demolition of several structures and the displacement of over 600 families.
The drive began around 5 AM and was supervised by Goalpara Deputy Commissioner Khanindra Choudhury.
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By midday, approximately 30% of the targeted area had been cleared, according to officials. The eviction, supported by heavy security, saw the deployment of around 20 excavators and bulldozers. Choudhury stated that the operation was aimed at clearing illegal encroachments on nearly 1,500 bighas of government land, including households, five lower primary schools, and a Jal Jeevan Mission project.
Three eviction notices had been issued prior to the operation—once each in 2023, 2024, and most recently on June 14. Public announcements were also made via banners and loudspeakers, asking occupants to vacate the land by June 15. The administration stated that 20–25 families vacated voluntarily after the latest notice.
Authorities claimed that the eviction was peaceful, with no reported resistance. However, many residents expressed distress, stating they were given insufficient time to relocate. Locals alleged that most of those affected were daily wage workers and that houses built over decades were razed within hours.
Several residents also said their belongings were left behind in the rush, and the timing of the drive disrupted ongoing school examinations. Allegations were made that the operation had disproportionately impacted members of a minority community, despite their names appearing in the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
Although officials affirmed that the land belongs to the government, evictees have appealed for immediate rehabilitation, stating they have no alternative shelter. No official rehabilitation plan has been announced yet.