Local Outrage in Goalpara Over Eviction Drive

Tensions Erupt in Goalpara

On June 22, tensions escalated in the Borpathar region of Goalpara as irate residents confronted Dhubri MP Rakibul Hussain and other Congress officials. The locals accused them of failing to provide timely assistance following a recent eviction operation at Hasila Beel.

The crowd's anger led to the expulsion of Goalpara East MLA A.K. Rashid Alom, along with Congress MLAs Jadab Swargiary, Wazed Ali Choudhury, and Aftabuddin Mollah from the area. Vehicles belonging to Congress leader Partha Pratim Baruah and others were targeted with stones and mud, heightening the already tense atmosphere.

The Congress representatives had come to the eviction site to offer relief supplies to those displaced. However, the affected residents rejected the aid, expressing their frustration over the leaders' lack of action during the demolition of their homes.

One local resident voiced their anger, stating, “They arrived a week after the eviction. Where were they when the government was demolishing our homes? We don’t want their help.”

In light of the unrest, law enforcement was dispatched to the area to prevent further disturbances and uphold public order.

The unrest originated on June 16, when approximately 20 excavators and bulldozers were sent to the site at dawn to remove alleged encroachments at Hasila Beel in Goalpara district.

Numerous homes were destroyed during the extensive eviction operation conducted by the local administration.

The Assam government reported that the operation legally reclaimed 495 acres of government-designated wetland from long-term encroachment.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed this development via social media on Thursday, stating, “The Government of Assam successfully completed a lawful eviction drive at Hasila Beel, recovering nearly 495 acres of government-notified wetland that had been encroached upon for years.”

Sarma emphasized that the drive "showcased our commitment to safeguarding Assam’s natural ecosystems while ensuring fairness and lawful action.”

He also noted that Hasila Beel covers around 1,500 bighas, making it larger than the ecologically sensitive Deepor Beel near Guwahati, and highlighted that it had been significantly encroached upon by illegal settlers over the years.