Assam's Encroachment Controversy: Protests, Evictions, and Cultural Clashes

Assam's Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, has urged lawful protest against encroachers instead of vigilantism. Allegations of community tension, stirred by eviction drives displacing mainly Bengali-speaking Muslims, have arisen. Sarma emphasizes the need to protect Assamese heritage and lawfully oppose illegal occupations while critics blame political influences for communal discord in Upper Assam.

Assam's Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, calls for citizen protests against encroachment, cautioning against vigilantism. This response follows tensions where youth groups demanded Bengali-speaking Muslims vacate certain districts amid reported assaults.

The Chief Minister linked these incidents to cultural threats, particularly illegal land occupations, urging protests under legal frameworks. Opposition parties accuse the state administration of fostering division, warning against religious conflicts.

Eviction efforts since June displaced over 50,000, predominantly Bengali-speaking Muslims, who settled after erosion destroyed their homes. The government plans further removals to reclaim public lands, sparking accusations of disruptive agendas.

(With inputs from agencies.)