(This story is part of our reportage on the targeting of Bengali-speaking minorities. Help us do more such stories by becoming a member. Also, follow our Uncovering Hate Project).
Amid the ongoing eviction drives in Assam, targeting mostly Bengali-origin Muslims, between 1,500-1,800 houses have been demolished in Golaghat in Upper District Assam. Bearing the blunt of this eviction, Nasir Uddin, 31, said, "our houses, hopes and hard work, they have taken it all away."
This has become part of the state's crackdown on alleged "illegal Bangladeshis" which has left these Muslims — most possessing their necessary documents — displaced or homeless.
Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday urged residents of the state not to provide shelter to those displaced during recent eviction drives, as per PTI.
Even before the CM made this remark, Nasir told The Quint that this is the line the CM Sarma has taken as "he does not want people to help us as he wants these so-called 'Bangladeshis' to go back to their place."
In addition to this, videos have surfaced online which purportedly show the locals demanding Muslims to leave the place. In one video, members of Jatiyo Sangrami Sena tracked Muslim families in the village and went door-to-door, threatening them to leave their homes, declaring that no “Miya” would be allowed to live in the area.
In another instance, a local news outlet also showed Assamese nationalist groups threatening Miya workers to leave Upper Assam. The groups were seen warning Miya Muslims "to leave" the Sivasagar district in Upper Assam, inhabited by mostly ethnic Assamese communities.
'Even Our Grandfathers Lived Here, Yet We Are Being Suspected'
"We were given an eviction notice around 9 days ago, since then they have demolished all the houses in Modurpur 2 village, barring a few which are left. They also demolished the huge Jama Masjid which is a kilometer away from my home," Nasir told The Quint.
Nasir's house was at the end of the lane and was the last one standing on 1 August. By the evening, his house was demolished too. The madrassa he worked in for the past six years, Tahfizul Quran was also demolished the same day.
Nasir's house has also been demolished in the recent eviction drive.
(Photo: Screenshot from a video accessed by The Quint)
The Quint has also accessed a copy of the eviction order, which states that those living in forest no. 14, have set up their houses by cutting wood from the forests and cited the Assam Forest Regulation, 1891. As per the notice, the residents were required to vacate the area within a week since the date of the notice (21 July).
Nasir, who was born a brought up in Modurpur village said, "That house was 45 years old. We got water, electricity from the government, we paid our bills to them. They did not just tear down my house, but also my brother's house. He's a tailor and his shop in the market was also demolished."
A breadwinner of the family, Nasir is a cleric. He has six brothers and four sisters. In total, there are eight children in the family. Because of the eviction, all of them had to be sent to houses of different relatives. Nasir, too is currently taking shelter in Nagaon.
He also alleged that those settlements inhabited by Assamese-speaking Muslims such as that of Modurpur 1 with 1,200-1,500 houses has not been sent any such notice. "The Assamese Muslims, even those who speak Manipuri, Nepali or are Adivasis have been spared," he added.
The state authorities, including people from the police and administration call us Bangladeshis. Sure, our roots, because of our family lineage, might trace to Bangladesh but we settled here in 1965-67. We were born here and have papers for the same. Including ration card, voter ID — our names are in the NRC list too.Nasir Uddin, Golaghat local to The Quint
Nasir also alleged that he has faced animosity and warnings from the co-District Commissioner and his team, stating that when the officials visited their village around 10 days ago for a survey, they asked the residents their names and the total number of residents. The locals showed their papers but Nasir claimed that officials told them they are "new dwellers, therefore, must be evicted."
The locals told The Quint that when they settled in this village decades ago, they underwent verification and got clearance from the local CRPF authorities and the forest department.
Why These Evictions Violate HC's Directives
Anarul Hoque, 32, is also a resident of the Modurpur village. When the eviction drive began, his house was reportedly the first to be demolished, Nasir alleged.
A team of 15 members had approached the High Court to request for a stay on the eviction drive. Nasir has claimed that the High Court ordered a stay and yet, the eviction drive was carried out 2 days later and the 15 men were the first to lose their homes.
The Quint accessed the order copy and found out that the evictions violate the HC's order. The Gauhati court order state that "no forceful eviction to be carried out" till 7 August 2025 to give them time to vacate the land. However, no such stay was followed.
Talking about the losses incurred, Anarul stated that the demolition took away all of their belongings. "We were only able to keep some things outside the house but were not able to take them away in police's presence. All of it has been lost."
Moreover, Nasir stated that next to his houses, two constructed by the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) were also demolished.
Nasir had also noted that another fallout from this eviction has been the loss of books, studies of the children who no longer have their own home and are displaced.
'TV Media Defamed The Madrassa They Demolished'
Anarul's house was demolished last month. He worked in the same Madrassa, Tahfizul Quraan, as Nasir in Rengma area.
Talking about the demolition, he told The Quint, "It's not just that they razed the Madrassa to the ground, but TV channels such as Zee News defamed us and the Madrassa. They said 'Jihad' was being taught and called this area 'mini Bangladesh.'"
The Quint found that Zee News showed a page from one of the books found in the madrassa and claimed "Masjid mein Jihad ki training."
"That book is a local Assamese book taught in schools, the chapter they showed was just about the Mughal administration and society. So they misconstrued it to show a Mughal-link. The Madrassa is also under 3 acre land, but the media is lying that it includes hundreds of acres," Anarul told The Quint.
The Quint has also seen the voter list where names of Anarul's family were recorded. Despite possessing the necessary documents, apart from his house, a shop belonging to his brother was also razed. Many of his family and friends have also been displaced.
People have cast aspersions on us that we are 'ghuspetiye' (infilitrators). Even when my grandfather's name is on old NRC list, voter list of 1971 and have our Aadhar, ration and voter cards. We have faced faced inquiries and surveys all over these years, no one here is "illegal." But the state, and these right-wing, hyper nationalist groups are creating fear.Anarul Hoque to The Quint
Since the eviction drive, Anarul also stated he also does not know the whereabouts of many of his friends and family as they have been dispersed from the area.
Further, Anarul has alleged that a few people from a neighbouring state have been reportedly eyeing to take over these evicted lands in Gelajan, No3 Rajapukhuri, Dolonipathar.
Meanwhile, PTI, quoting an official stated, "Around 2,000 families are living in those areas. Out of them, notices were served to about 1,500 families, who illegally settled here. The remaining families are forest dwellers and have certificates from the Forest Rights Committee (FRC)."
(The Quint has also reached out to the District Commissioner and Co-District Commissioner as well. Their response will be added once received)