The Supreme Court has issued a notice concerning a petition that accuses the Assam government of unlawfully targeting Bengali-speaking Muslims during a recent eviction drive carried out near the Assam-Nagaland border. The plea, filed by affected residents, alleges that the state authorities conducted the operation hastily, without proper notice or rehabilitation, forcing hundreds of families to live under open skies or depend on temporary shelter provided by acquaintances.
According to the petitioners, the eviction took place in a forested area under the pretext that their settlement violated the Assam Forest Regulation of 1891. They argued that the authorities acted with bias, deliberately singling out families from their community while allowing others occupying the same land to remain undisturbed. The petitioners contended that the eviction notices were served on July 21, 2025, granting seven days for compliance. However, in practice, they claimed they were given almost no time to respond before bulldozers and police arrived to demolish their homes.
The plea describes the incident as a “selective demolition drive,” asserting that only houses belonging to Bengali-speaking Muslims were destroyed. This, the petitioners said, triggered a climate of fear and communal tension, prompting many families to flee even before their houses were razed. They also alleged that the vacated land has since been reallocated by the state government to neighbouring settlers, who were permitted to occupy the petitioners’ former residences. The petition claims that similar eviction campaigns over time have displaced more than 50,000 individuals from the region.
The petitioners, many of whom earned their livelihood through betel nut farming and local cultivation, reported suffering severe economic loss since the eviction coincided with the harvesting season. Some of them held valid trade licences issued by the state itself for betel nut trading, highlighting what they termed a contradiction in government policy—granting licences on one hand and destroying their means of income on the other.
They further stated that their settlements were recognized in several welfare schemes, including the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G), Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), Sarba Siksha Abhiyan (SSA), and electrification programs. Despite being recipients of such government benefits, their homes and infrastructure were demolished without notice or compensation.
The petitioners added that they now live in extreme uncertainty, lacking both rehabilitation and official support. They expressed concern over reported statements attributed to the Chief Minister of Assam, who allegedly warned that the evicted families might be struck off the state’s electoral rolls. Furthermore, it was claimed that the Chief Minister cautioned other residents against giving shelter to those displaced.
Lastly, the plea draws attention to an earlier Supreme Court order dated August 22, 2025, which had temporarily halted similar eviction drives in the area. Despite that directive, the petitioners argue that they were still forcefully removed and deprived of their homes. They have urged the court to recognize their plight, ensure fair treatment, and direct the state to take steps that respect their right to dignity, livelihood, and rehabilitation.
