Is Organised Land Encroachment in Assam Part of a Systematic Pattern?

Guwahati, July 18 (NationPress) - Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma asserted on Friday that the ongoing illegal land encroachments in the state are indicative of a calculated and systematic strategy. He noted that individuals are coming from as far as Manipur and even Bangladesh to seize forest and government lands. Emphasizing his administration’s strict stance, Sarma declared that all encroachers—irrespective of their origins—would face eviction. Speaking at a press conference in Guwahati, he described the encroachment trend as commencing with a handful of settlers who initiate cultivation, eventually evolving into complete settlements.

“There seems to be a distinct plan at play. Initially, a few individuals settle, followed by the arrival of more to establish a community,” he stated.

Referencing a recent eviction initiative in Lakhimpur district, Sarma disclosed that 12 families from Manipur and Nagaon had taken residence in an area that was previously cleared of encroachments. The Chief Minister instructed district officials to ensure their return. He also highlighted that numerous encroachers misrepresent their origins, claiming to be from nearby districts like Goalpara, while actually coming from West Bengal or Bangladesh.

“Just yesterday, we detained 16 illegal Bangladeshi nationals,” he mentioned, attributing the situation to prior governments' negligence in stopping such cross-border incursions.

Sarma pointed out a recurrent pattern of encroachment across various regions—ginger farming in Lumding, betel nut cultivation in Uriamghat (Golaghat), and rubber plantations in Sribhumi and Hailakandi. He estimated that over 500 families are settled in Uriamghat alone, with some reportedly cultivating as much as 500 bighas per family.

He expressed alarm about the mixing of Myanmar-sourced betel nuts with local products to misrepresent them as indigenous, urging for stricter regulations. Sarma also suggested that administrative inaction has allowed these settlements to flourish unchecked, as they grew into potential vote banks for some local politicians. “When the population exceeds 5,000 to 10,000, even MLAs become reticent to act,” he commented.

The Assam government has reclaimed 1.19 lakh bighas of land since May 2021, affecting approximately 50,000 individuals. However, Sarma noted that 63 lakh bighas—nearly half of which consists of forest land—remains encroached. While not specifying any particular group, he attributed this phenomenon to a demographic shift purportedly instigated by individuals of “one religion,” cautioning against a potential “land invasion” that threatens indigenous communities.