BJP Government Evicts Indigenous Communities in Assam

The anti-poor BJP government in Assam has sought to impose an Emergency-like situation in the state with ruthless evictions of indigenous communities and assaults on protesters. On 27 November, the government demolished hundreds of houses in the Amchang area near Guwahati, Assam. These houses belonged to the working class and poor peasants from the Mising, Karbi, Rabha, Dimasa, Bodo, Koch, Kalita, Ahom and other indigenous communities who have been living in the area for a long time, pushed into the margins of the city. The eviction was done with the full force of the state machinery: 1,500 police personnel came with their guns, tear gas shells, 15 elephants, 20 excavators, 20 Executive Magistrates, and the entire Forest department, District Administration, Assam Power Distribution Corporation Ltd, State Disaster Response Force, Health Department and other emergency services.

This has happened with the BJP government engaging in a deliberate misinterpretation of the Guwahati High Court order, which did not even specify a date for clearing ‘encroachments’. Moreover, clear violations of rehabilitation and other norms have been observed. The truth is that Cement companies AG Cement and Raksha Cement, Tea Gardens, coke calcination and brick kilns are the real encroachers who cause havoc to the environment in this reserved forest area. When this simple question was raised, the government of ‘Jati-Mati-Bheti’ and Forest Minister Pramila Rani Brahma openly defended the Cement and Tea company owners and branded the local population as ‘encroachers’.

What is striking and unfortunate is that the Government immediately brought out tear-gas shells and guns, and five people were seriously injured with one woman protestor, Malati Das, currently in ICU with a live bullet injury. Others injured are Anima Khatun, Rashita Khatun, Gautam Baishya and Utpal Patgiri.

Apart from this, police terrorised and kidnapped protestors from across the city, clamping down on KMSS activists (Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti) especially with a clear vengeance. KMSS leader and advisor Bedanta Laskar, Joint General Secretary Dhaijya Konwar, and activist Gopi Saikia were arrested from various parts of the city. Why? Just because they were present in solidarity with the protestors. Bedanta and Gopi were not even present on the site but were picked up while coming on a motorcycle in the middle of the city. They were charged with various sections of the IPC and sent to 14 days of judicial custody today.

The area claimed by the forest department as ‘Amchang’ are shown as revenue villages in the Central Government's notification issued in the month of May earlier this year declaring certain villages around Amchang as eco-sensitive zones. Therefore, the forest department cannot claim these areas as falling under Reserve Forest without any proof. Moreover, it has been admitted by the forest department before the court that till 2016, they were not sure about the boundary of the Amchang Reserve Forest and therefore had to go for GPS survey in 2016. When the forest department has no idea about the boundary of the forest, how can anyone expect the common people to know the boundaries?

It is also a fact that the 'Furlong post' which is supposed to be the reference point for determining the boundary of the Amchang Reserve Forest did not exist and it is purely on the basis of the assumption that the forest demarcated the boundary of the Reserve forest. Moreover, while demarcating the boundary, the affected people were not taken into confidence. It has also been admitted by the government that in the Khanapara side, encroachment had taken place prior to the declaration of Amchang Reserve Forest in 2004. Therefore, the rights of tribal people even assuming to be living within the Reserve Forest ought to have been settled under the Forest Right Act.

It is the failure of the state to provide livelihood and shelter to its citizens which had forced people to migrate to Guwahati and reside in the most difficult conditions by occupying hills. A state which failed in its constitutional obligations does not have the moral right to evict poor people on the grounds of encroachment. The so-called conservationists have never raised their voices against the cement factories constructed within 150 and 350 metres from Amchang. Sadly, the judiciary refused to take note of these issues and instead passed the buck to the Deputy Commissioner directing the affected people to file representations. The Deputy sat over the matter without passing any order.

The Amchang eviction is not the only one that Assam has witnessed in very recent times. The eviction in the Sipajhar area of Darrang district just a few days ago was very similar in nature. The settlers in that area are largely Muslims who fled from Barpeta and Dhubri after losing their lands in floods. They have legitimate documents of land purchases and have been living in the area for more than a decade. Conscious efforts were made to give the issue a communal colour and to vilify them as illegal immigrants. While the NRC process is underway under the supervision of the Supreme court, it is problematic to declare anyone an illegal immigrant. First, the 'soft target' Bengal-origin Muslims were evicted and then it was extended to other areas.

More importantly what has become an open secret now is that mighty logistical parks and cement and vehicle factories are coming in PPP model. As per a National Highway Authority of India document named “Logistics Park in Guwahati: Brief Location Assessment”, the state government has to provide encumbrances-free land for the upcoming Logistical Hub. All these indicate a clear agenda to facilitate land grab by the corporates in the name of recovering forest land. Reports have already come up in local media that a huge cement factory is coming up in Amchang.

Apart from KMSS, the CPI(M) and the CPI organised demonstrations against the police brutality. Many students at the call of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), SMSS (Satro Mukti Sangram Samiti) and Mising Student Organisation gathered at Guwahati University main gate the next day for a protest demonstration. But the CRPF arrested many students from the premise of the University even before the demonstration began, which has created severe anguish among University students. All these show the eagerness of the government to free up land near Guwahati Metro and to hand it over to the corporates in the name of the logistical park and industries.