BJP Govt in Assam destroys 400 Bengali Muslim families’ makeshift homes

The BJP government led by Himanta Biswa Sarma continued its crackdown on Bengali-origin Muslims on Monday, evicting around 400 families by demolishing makeshift homes in the greater Dhalpur Char area, a sandbar in the Brahmaputra River in Sipajhar, Darrang district.

This marks a recurrence of the violent eviction drive in September 2021, during which over 1,400 homes, 48 shops, and three mosques were destroyed, leaving an estimated 7,000 people homeless. The previous eviction resulted in the deaths of two civilians when Assam Police opened fire on protesting villagers.

According to the additional deputy revenue commissioner in Darrang, the displaced families from 2021 were directed to relocate to a designated land patch in Dalgaon, approximately 40 kilometres from Dhalpur.

Monday's evictions were part of a periodic campaign aimed at clearing what the government described as encroached land. This land has been earmarked for the Gorukhuti Agricultural Project. Officials reported that 620 families had been instructed to move to Dalgaon but failed to comply, leading to the demolition of 397 families' homes.

One affected resident, Wahab Ali, a 36-year-old driver, faced the destruction of his home for the second time since 2021. Ali, who lived under a makeshift tin roof, witnessed the demolition of five homes belonging to his brothers as well, according to scroll.in.

The temporary shelters were built using remnants of their previously demolished homes. Following the eviction, many residents, including Ali, spent the night exposed to the elements.

Residents claimed they received inadequate notice prior to the eviction, being informed only two days before the bulldozers arrived. District officials allegedly threatened residents to dismantle their shelters and vacate the land within half an hour, resulting in forced demolitions for those who did not comply.