The Assam eviction drive has caused unrest in the northeast region of India. Assam had launched aggressive eviction drives from forestlands since 2016, citing a directive from the Guwahati High Court to clear encroachments. Read here to learn more.
The Assam government has intensified its eviction drive from forestlands in 2025, following earlier operations in 2016 and 2021.
While the State justifies these actions as measures to reclaim encroached forest areas in compliance with court orders, the aggressive approach has created social and political tensions across the Northeast.
Reasons for Assam Eviction Drive
- Political Promise:
- The BJP’s 2016 campaign pledged to protect jaati (race), maati (land), and bheti (hearth).
- Eviction from “encroached” lands, especially forest areas and the fringe zones of wildlife sanctuaries, became a key deliverable.
- Judicial Direction:
- The Guwahati High Court directed Assam to clear encroachments from forestlands.
- First major operation: September 2016, three fringe villages of Kaziranga National Park.
- Recent Push (2025):
- Operations resumed in June 2025, amid political controversies and corruption allegations.
- Alleged targeting of Bengali Muslim migrants, sparking accusations of ethnic and religious bias.
- Land Recovery for Projects:
- In Gorukhuti (Darrang district), reclaimed land was earmarked for agricultural projects, including the redistribution of Gir cows.
Reactions in Neighbouring States
The eviction campaign has reverberated beyond Assam’s borders.
Encroachments and Disputed Claims
- Assam shares complex and unresolved boundaries with Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Nagaland, many dating back to colonial demarcations and post-reorganisation disputes.
- 83,000 hectares of land claimed by Assam are reportedly occupied by these neighbouring States.
- Migrants are accused of settling in disputed areas, sometimes allegedly encouraged by Assam to solidify territorial claims.
Reactions of Bordering States
- Tightening of migration control: Neighbouring States like Mizoram and Arunachal have increased MIT (Movement of Indigenous Tribes) permit scrutiny.
- Preventive evictions: Suspected migrants have been expelled from some border areas by other States, pushing them back towards Assam.
- Border surveillance: Security forces have been deployed to prevent cross-border infiltration of evicted populations.
Why Assam Has Boundary Disputes with Four States
Historical Roots: Stem from the colonial-era undemarcated boundaries between the erstwhile Assam Province and surrounding hill districts (which later became separate States).
State-specific Issues:
- Arunachal Pradesh: Disputes over 800+ sq km of forestland; related to interpretation of 1873 Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation.
- Meghalaya: 12 contested sectors covering ~2,700 sq km; claims over areas administered by Assam during British rule.
- Mizoram: Dispute over forest tracts; violence in 2021 led to deaths on both sides.
- Nagaland: Longstanding claim over “Naga ancestral lands” in Assam’s forest belts.
Encroachments Complicate Disputes: Migrant settlement in disputed areas fuels tensions and complicates resolution.
Guwahati High Court Directions
Key Orders:
- Immediate removal of all encroachments from forestlands in Assam.
- Protection of reserved forests and wildlife sanctuaries from illegal occupation.
- Periodic compliance reporting by State authorities.
Implications of Assam eviction drive
Inter-State Relations
- Strained Assam–neighbouring State ties due to mutual allegations of harbouring migrants.
- Risk of renewed border clashes, as witnessed in the Assam–Mizoram conflict (2021).
Ethnic and Social Tensions
- Heightened mistrust between indigenous communities and Bengali-speaking Muslims.
- Possibility of communal flare-ups in sensitive districts.
Human Rights and Rehabilitation Concerns
- Displacement without alternative housing or livelihood support.
- Vulnerability of evicted populations to poverty, trafficking, and statelessness.
Environmental–Political Balance
- While aimed at forestland protection, eviction drives risk being perceived as selective and politically motivated, undermining conservation goals.
Way Forward
- Inter-State Coordination: Implement the Gauhati HC directive for coordinated action to prevent forced cross-border movement.
- Conflict-Sensitive Planning: Link eviction to rehabilitation and livelihood programmes.
- Border Dispute Resolution: Fast-track boundary demarcation and conflict mediation through neutral commissions.
- Legal Safeguards: Ensure evictions meet constitutional protections under Article 21 (Right to Life) and are in line with international human rights standards.
- Community-Based Conservation: Involve local communities in managing forest resources to reduce encroachment pressures.
Conclusion
The eviction drive is not just an environmental enforcement measure; it is deeply interlinked with Assam’s identity politics, inter-state boundary disputes, and migration history.
The aggressive pace has caused spillover concerns in neighbouring States, potentially straining fragile peace in the Northeast. A coordinated, humane, and dialogue-based approach will be crucial to prevent escalation.
Related articles:
- Assam-Meghalaya border dispute
- Northeast India- insurgency and other issues
- ULFA
- PM-Development Initiative for Northeast Region
- Languages in northeast India
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