Mosque prayers, tears mark massive eviction drive in Assam's Dhubri

An eviction drive in Assam's Dhubri district on November 1 triggered emotional scenes in Alomganj's Ninth Block, where a woman fainted after watching her house being demolished as authorities deployed over 50 bulldozers to clear alleged encroachments on government land.

As demolition work progressed, residents were seen offering prayers and making supplications at a mosque amid the large-scale eviction operation. Several people also broke down near a shrine as authorities continued demolishing houses and other structures in the area.

The eviction drive began at 6 am under heavy police deployment. Residents were seen crying and praying as the JCB machines moved through the area, bringing down houses and structures allegedly built on government land.

The administration is seeking to clear around 650 bighas of government land in Alomganj, out of a total 800 bighas. Dhubri Deputy Commissioner Dibakar Nath said nearly 550 families, comprising an estimated 4,000 people, had been living in the area.

According to Nath, the eviction followed a lengthy administrative process involving hearings and the issuance of speaking orders. Residents were given one month's time to vacate the land before the operation began.

Nearly 80 per cent of the residents had left before the drive, taking their belongings with them, the Deputy Commissioner said. However, some families remained after approaching the court to challenge the eviction and seek legal relief. The next hearing in the matter is scheduled for November 13.

Several residents had earlier appealed for alternative accommodation and rehabilitation. Some claimed they had purchased the land from private individuals and were unaware that it belonged to the government.

The administration maintained that the land belonged to the government and that the eviction was being carried out in accordance with the law.