On August 2, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made a clear distinction in the state’s eviction policy. He said that if indigenous people are living on government land without permission, it will not be called encroachment. He said only suspected foreigners, especially illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, will be considered encroachers.
While speaking with reporters during BJP event, CM Said, “There are two types of encroachments. If indigenous people are living without permission, we don’t call it encroachment. Only those who came from Bangladesh are considered encroachers.”
His comments came while a major eviction drive is underway in the Golaghat district, where nearly 11,000 bighas (about 1,500 hectares) of forest land are being cleared of what officials say are illegal settlers.
Assam CM Stated government will continue these drives, focusing on areas where “foreigners and doubtful citizens” live. “We will carry out evictions where such people are living. That is our goal,” he added.
This selective approach has stirred debate in Assam, a state with a long history of migration-related tensions. The CM’s policy separates indigenous settlers from those believed to be illegal immigrants, raising fresh concerns over land rights, identity, and communal harmony.
