Goalpara administration demolishes 73 houses in Assam eviction drive

The Goalpara district administration in Assam conducted an eviction drive on Monday, demolishing 73 houses across five revenue villages in the Krishnai area, including Kharija Paikan, Khamar Manikpur, Bhojmala Part II, Jatsharbadi, and Tengabari.

District Commissioner Pradip Timung stated the operation aimed to protect agricultural land, water bodies, and natural drainage channels. Officials noted that unauthorized settlements on agricultural land have been obstructing water flow and contributing to the shrinking of water bodies and recurring floods. Timung emphasized that the action was not communal, noting that some local residents had also expressed concerns regarding the unauthorized constructions.

However, residents and minority organizations have contested the demolitions. Representatives from the North East Minority Student Union and the Muslim Students’ Union of Assam claim that many affected families possessed legal land documents and were living on privately owned plots rather than government property. They argued the issue was strictly the land's classification as agricultural rather than a lack of ownership, and they have called for compensation for the displaced families.