The Assam government’s eviction drive against forestland encroachers has intensified since 2016. The campaign targets illegal settlements primarily in protected areas. It has drawn sharp reactions from neighbouring States, leading to heightened border security and political unease in the region.
Background of the Eviction Drive
The eviction drive began after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) assumed power in Assam in 2016. The party promised to protect local identity, land, and culture. Following a Gauhati High Court order, the first operation took place near Kaziranga National Park. The drive resumed in 2021 and intensified in 2025 amid allegations of government corruption. The campaign focuses on reclaiming forestlands, wetlands, and government revenue lands from encroachers.
Historical Roots of the Issue
Encroachment is not new in Assam. However, the BJP and allied regional parties blame previous Congress governments for enabling illegal settlement by Bengali-speaking Muslims, termed ‘Bangladeshi’ or ‘Miya’. These groups have been politically polarising since the Assam Agitation (1979-85). The agitation led to the Assam Accord, which set March 24, 1971, as the cut-off date for detecting and deporting illegal immigrants.
Nature and Impact of the Drive
The eviction drive has affected both Muslim and non-Muslim communities. In 2022, over 130 families lost homes when Guwahati’s Silsako Beel wetland was cleared. The campaign has resulted in at least five deaths since 2016. Over 1,000 families were evicted from forest reserves in 2025. BJP leaders describe the drive as a long-term effort to protect Assam from ‘land jihad’. The Chief Minister brought into light extensive illegal occupation of monastery lands and forests, vowing to continue the drive for at least ten years. Tribal communities under the Forest Rights Act are exempted.
Regional Reactions and Border Security
Neighbours of Assam have grown concerned as evictions near interstate borders risk displacement into their territories. Nagaland’s NGOs and authorities acted to prevent migrant influx. Extremist groups formed task forces to guard borders. Manipur, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, and Mizoram also tightened controls and inner-line permit regulations. This reflects fears that evictions may fuel demographic changes and territorial tensions.
Link to Interstate Border Disputes
Encroachment issues intertwine with Assam’s longstanding boundary disputes. The neighbouring States were carved out of Assam between 1963 and 1972. Assam claims that Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Nagaland occupy nearly 83,000 hectares of its land. These disputes have caused over 350 deaths. Partial settlements have been reached with Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya. The Gauhati High Court recently directed all five States to form a committee for coordinated eviction and settlement efforts.
Questions for UPSC:
- Critically discuss the impact of ethnic and religious identity on land disputes and eviction drives in Northeast India.
- Analyse the role of the Assam Accord (1985) in shaping immigration policies and inter-community relations in Assam.
- Examine the challenges of interstate border disputes in India’s Northeast and their impact on regional security and development.
- Estimate the effects of environmental conservation efforts on indigenous rights and demographic changes in forested regions of India.
