Assam Evicts Thousands of Bengali Muslims Amid Crackdown
Thousands of Bengali Muslims Lose Homes in Assam Evictions
Thousands of Bengali-speaking Muslim families in Assam have lost their homes in the biggest eviction drive in years. Authorities say these families were living illegally on government land, but many say they have lived in Assam for generations.
One of them is 53-year-old Aran Ali. He now lives with his family on a patch of bare land after their home was bulldozed. “We are called foreigners,” he said. “But I was born here in Assam.”
The evictions are happening as national elections are coming soon. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is in power in Assam and is focusing on removing what they call “illegal Muslim infiltrators” from Bangladesh. This started after a new government took power in Bangladesh in August 2024.
Assam shares a 262 km border with Bangladesh and has a long history of tension over immigration. Some local leaders say the rising number of Bengali Muslims is changing the region’s population. Assam’s Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma recently said Muslims now make up 30% of the state’s 31 million people and could become 50% in a few years.
Since 2021, Sarma’s government has removed around 50,000 people from over 160 square kilometers of land. Most of them are Bengali Muslims. In the past month alone, around 3,400 homes were destroyed in eviction drives.
Critics say these actions are unfair and target Muslims. “These families are easy targets for right-wing groups,” said Praveen Donthi from the International Crisis Group. Human Rights Watch also says India’s eviction actions show bias against Muslims.
Opposition leaders say the BJP is using evictions to get votes. Akhil Gogoi, an opposition politician, said, “These moves help the BJP in elections.” The Congress party has promised to rebuild the homes if it wins power again.
Many families labeled as “foreigners” have lived in India for years. Some are even being sent back to Bangladesh. But many say they are wrongly declared non-Indian and are too poor to fight in court.
In 2016, India said nearly 20 million illegal Bangladeshi migrants were living in the country. As of May 2025, India has sent a list of 2,369 people to Bangladesh for deportation.
Since Sheikh Hasina’s government was removed in Bangladesh, Assam’s leaders have reported more “infiltration attempts” and posted photos of arrested people online.
Experts say politics in Assam has now mixed with religion. “Earlier, it was about outsiders,” said Donthi. “Now it’s clearly about Muslim outsiders.”
Mutib Khalid is a skilled content writer and digital marketer with a knack for crafting compelling narratives and optimizing digital strategies. Excel in creating engaging content that drives results and enhances online presence. Passionate about blending creativity with data-driven approaches, Mutib Khalid helps brands connect with their audience and achieve their goals.
