Adv. Sharfuddin Ahmad Denounces Deadly Eviction in Paikan, Assam

The Social Democratic Party of India stands in unwavering solidarity with the over 1,080 families uprooted by the Assam government’s brutal eviction drive in Paikan, Goalpara district, an operation that tragically claimed at least one life. This inhumane act, executed under the guise of ecological restoration, is a stark manifestation of the BJP-led government’s disregard for human dignity and justice, particularly for marginalized communities. The violent clash, marked by police firing that killed Qutub-uddin Sheikh, and injured others, is a grim testament to the state’s callous approach.

We are deeply troubled by the evident targeting of Bengali-speaking Muslims in this eviction drive, a pattern that echoes Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s divisive rhetoric about “restoring native demography.” Such language and actions fuel communal discord, casting an entire community as outsiders to serve a polarizing political agenda ahead of the 2026 elections. This selective focus on Muslim-majority settlements, while sparing other encroachments, raises serious questions about the government’s motives.

Equally alarming is the government’s failure to adhere to legal norms, particularly the Forest Rights Act of 2006, which requires settling land rights claims before evictions. Many residents of Bidyapara and Betbari assert their villages predate the 1982 reserve forest designation, yet the government has dismissed these claims without proper adjudication, trampling on the rights of long-standing inhabitants.

The eviction process itself has been marred by inadequate notice and a complete absence of rehabilitation plans. Notices issued in December 2024 and June 2025 were poorly communicated, leaving families with no realistic means to relocate by the July 10 deadline. Now, over 5,000 people, including vulnerable women, children, and elderly, languish in makeshift tents, deprived of shelter, food, and medical care. The government’s promise to provide land rights to Indian citizens remains an empty gesture, exacerbating a humanitarian crisis.

The use of lethal force on July 17, resulting in death and injuries, demands a transparent judicial inquiry to hold authorities accountable. The SDPI condemns this excessive force and calls for an immediate halt to such evictions, a comprehensive rehabilitation plan, and strict adherence to legal frameworks. We will continue to champion the rights of the marginalized and ensure that justice prevails over oppression.

Adv. Sharfuddin Ahmad
National Vice President