Guwahati, Assam: The All Assam Minority Students’ Union (AAMSU) on Saturday launched a series of concerted protests across Assam, strongly condemning the state government’s ongoing eviction drives on government-owned lands. The union has vociferously labelled these operations as “inhuman,” asserting that they are leading to the displacement of thousands of impoverished and marginalised families throughout the state.
In Gossaigaon, the Western Kokrajhar District Committee of AAMSU led a robust demonstration. The protest unfolded in front of the union’s district office at Serfanguri, where participants prominently displayed banners and placards. They chanted slogans such as “BJP Go Back,” “AAMSU Zindabad,” and “Stop Inhuman Atrocities,” articulating their strong disapproval. Protesters alleged attempts by the police to disrupt their peaceful assembly and impede its success. Despite these reported hurdles, the demonstration concluded with the submission of a memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister, routed through the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO).
Concurrently, in Kokrajhar town, the capital of the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR), the district unit of AAMSU organised a protest demonstration at Gandhi Park. Protesters attempted to initiate a rally to amplify their demands, but their march was intercepted by Kokrajhar police, who cited concerns over maintaining law and order. Undeterred by the intervention, the demonstrators persisted in raising slogans like “Down with the Assam Government,” “Shame on Assam Police,” and “Stop Inhuman Evictions,” which contributed to a charged and emotionally resonant atmosphere at the protest site.
These widespread demonstrations by AAMSU come in the wake of recent large-scale eviction drives conducted across Assam. On July 8, the state government carried out an eviction operation in the Chapar area of Dhubri district, clearing over 3,500 bighas of land. A similar operation was undertaken today in Goalpara district’s Paikan area, affecting over 1,080 bighas and resulting in the displacement of numerous families from their homes and livelihoods.
Addressing members of the media, Aminul Islam, Assistant General Secretary of AAMSU, delivered a scathing critique of the Assam government’s approach to these evictions. He stated, “We do not accept these inhuman eviction drives. Because of them, common people in Assam are suffering immensely. Students and young children are being deprived of their education. That’s why we have termed these evictions inhuman. We demand an immediate halt to these operations and call for adequate compensation for the affected families.” His comments underscored the union’s deep concern for the welfare of those impacted by the drives.
AAMSU has issued a fervent appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to intervene and put an end to what it has characterised as “anti-people actions.” The union cautioned that continued silence from the central government on this matter could exacerbate the crisis for thousands of Assam’s most vulnerable citizens, intensifying their hardship and further destabilising their lives.
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