Hundreds of river erosion affected families evicted in Northeast India’s Assam

INDIA-CN-1001

Eviction of erosion affected communities in India's Northeast; concerns of land, livelihood and compensation

India

Assam, Northeast India

Dhubri

Chirakuta, Charuabakhra, Santoshpur and nearby villages.

26°14'6.03"N

90°17'57.08"E

08/07/2025

Ongoing

In July 2025, the Government of Assam undertook a large-scale eviction operation in the Chapar revenue circle of Dhubri district, targeting villages such as Charuwa Bakra, Chirakuta, and Santoshpur. The official rationale presented by the district administration was to reclaim approximately 3,000 to 3,500 bighas of government (khas) land, earmarked for the development of a proposed 3,400 MW thermal power project under the aegis of the Assam Power Development Corporation Limited (APDCL). The project has reportedly attracted interest from private sector entities, including the Adani Group, although formal contracts have yet to be awarded. The state’s position is that the cleared land would facilitate industrialization and bolster the state’s energy infrastructure.

Estimates suggest that between 1,069 and 1,400 families—predominantly Bengali-speaking Muslims residing in riverine “char” areas—were displaced in the process. These families have historically occupied the land for decades, some allegedly without formal land titles but with long-term settlement patterns. Despite official claims that prior notice was issued and that up to 95% of residents vacated voluntarily following appeals by the Chief Minister, the operation was marked by resistance. A subset of residents contested the legality of the eviction, citing interim stay orders from the Gauhati High Court, which they claim were ignored or inadequately addressed by the state.

The eviction operation escalated into confrontation on July 8, 2025. Protesters reportedly attacked earth-moving equipment with stones and sticks, damaging two excavators. In response, police forces deployed lathi charges to disperse crowds and ensure administrative control. Notably, a local mosque at Santoshpur was demolished, intensifying the emotional and political charge of the event. Members of the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) and civil society activists attempted to intervene or observe the situation but were detained by security forces. Akhil Gogoi, leader of the Raijor Dal and sitting MLA, was among those detained. In public statements, Gogoi characterized the eviction as a violation of fundamental rights and judicial orders.

In the aftermath, the state government announced a one-time financial relief package of ₹50,000 per family. Approximately 400 to 1,069 families were reported to have received this sum. For those lacking legal land titles, the government proposed a temporary rehabilitation site comprising 300 bighas of land at Baizar-Alga in the Athani revenue circle. However, reports from the ground suggest that the implementation of this rehabilitation policy was uneven, and many affected individuals remain without secure shelter or livelihood alternatives.

The eviction has been widely condemned by opposition leaders and civil society organizations. The Assam United Citizens’ Convention (AUCC), comprising academics, activists, and former bureaucrats, issued a strong statement criticizing the eviction as “cruel and unconstitutional.” They alleged that the action constituted a systematic attempt to dispossess minority communities under the guise of public interest.

Secondary Displacement of Climate-Affected Population

Indirect

Conflict

Eviction

Yes

Hydrological

Erosion

Yes

Dhubri district, India

4200

1400

18.71

permanent

Dispersed within district

2

Yes

common

common

468

468

0

40

40

Subsistence farming, Livestock herding, Fishing or aquaculture, Small-scale business/trade, Daily wage labor

Dependent on aid/relief, No stable source of income, Daily wage labor

Yes

formal

energy

limited

The Assam government sanctioned a one-time ex-gratia payment of Rs 50,000 per family for those residing on state-owned (khas) land without legal title. District officials confirmed that several hundred cheques had already been distributed, particularly to those who vacated voluntarily before the eviction operation.

partial

As of July 2025, the rehabilitation support provided by the Assam government to families displaced during the Dhubri eviction drive has been limited and insufficient according to both media reports and statements from community members. The Assam government offered a one-time ex-gratia cash payment of ₹50,000 per evicted family. This relief was intended for those occupying khas land (state-owned) without formal land titles. However, not all families received the payment. Many reported delays or exclusion from the distribution. For landholders with formal land pattas, a separate compensation process under land acquisition laws was promised but not completed as of July 2025.

Emergency Shelter, Food Assistance, Drinking Water, Cash Compensation, Land-for-Land Compensation, Legal Land Titles, Safe Relocation Site, Basic Infrastructure (Roads, Electricity), School Access, Health Centre Access, Livelihood Rehabilitation Package, Policy Reform, Transparency in Land Acquisition

Yes

No

Inadequate Consultation, Lack of Transparency in Decision-Making, Denial of Land Rights, No Legal Recognition of Settlement, Unclear Land Ownership Status, Inadequate Compensation, Not Recognised as Climate-Affected, Prior Climate Displacement Ignored, Failure to Acknowledge Climate-linked Vulnerability, State Failed to Prevent Erosion/Flooding, Loss of Livelihood, Loss of Agricultural Land, Loss of Housing, School Disruption, Health Impacts, Increased Debt or Financial Hardship, Use of Force During Eviction, Property Destroyed

No

No

Yes

Petitions were filed before the Gauhati High Court by affected residents and representatives challenging the eviction conducted in Chirakuta, Dhubri district, in July 2025. The petitioners questioned procedural compliance, adequacy of notice, and the absence of structured rehabilitation prior to demolition. The case concerns the legality of the eviction from government (khas) land and whether due process safeguards were sufficiently followed.

Case filed, pending

Yes

forced eviction

Concerns were raised regarding the right to adequate housing and livelihood, particularly in relation to prior notice, consultation, and rehabilitation measures. Allegations focus on procedural fairness rather than adjudicated violations.

Assam Land and Revenue Regulation, 1886 (provisions governing administration of government land and eviction of encroachments) The Assam Land (Requisition and Acquisition) Act, 1964 (framework for requisition and acquisition of land for public purposes, including procedural safeguards and compensation mechanisms)

Non-governmental organisation, Media, Court, Fieldwork

Mega eviction drive across 3 Assam villages sees stone pelting and lathi charge; 1400 families displaced

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/mega-eviction-drive-3-assam-villages-stone-pelting-lathi-charge-1400-families-10114482/

Massive eviction drive in Dhubri: Over 2,000 families displaced from 3,500 bighas of land

https://www.indiatodayne.in/assam/video/massive-eviction-drive-in-dhubri-over-2000-families-displaced-from-3500-bighas-of-land-1241241-2025-07-08

High