“Where Will We Go?”: Locals Plead Ahead of Goalpara Eviction

As per the announcement made by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the eviction scheduled for today (July 11) has been postponed in view of Friday prayers (Jumma). The Goalpara district administration is now set to carry out the massive eviction drive in the Paikan Reserve Forest area on Saturday, July 12.

For the operation, over 40 excavators have been arranged, and a large police force has been deployed to ensure smooth execution.

The Chief Minister has also announced that, following the Paikan Reserve Forest eviction, similar eviction drives will be conducted at 10–12 other locations, as listed by the government. 

Preparations are reportedly complete, with bulldozers and enforcement teams ready to clear encroachments from the protected forest zone.

Meanwhile, the families facing eviction have once again appealed to Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, urging the government to arrange rehabilitation and resettlement before displacing them. The plea comes amid growing concerns over the humanitarian impact of the eviction drive. 

Following the decision by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to temporarily halt the eviction drive in Goalpara’s Paikan Reserve Forest on Friday (July 11) in respect of Jumma (Friday prayers), several residents welcomed the gesture, but also urged the government to consider the human cost of the upcoming eviction.

One local resident said, “It’s a good decision by the Chief Minister to halt the eviction today out of respect for our religious practices. But more than this, we urge him to show the same sense of humanity and constitutional responsibility when it comes to our future. After the eviction, what will happen to us? Where will we go?”

He added, “The Chief Minister has taken an oath on the Constitution of India. If he truly understands its values, he must uphold the rights and dignity of all communities. He is not just the Chief Minister of Hindus, he is the Chief Minister of every citizen, including us Muslims. We work hard to earn a living, and yet we are the ones being constantly targeted. The government needs to think about the consequences, what happens to people when they are left homeless?”

Another resident alleged that the police have visited the area multiple times over the past few days, warning people to vacate their homes and threatening demolition.

“They came four or five times and told us to leave or they would break our houses. Out of fear, many people started dismantling their own homes, even before the official deadline. This kind of pressure leaves us with no choice. We might be forced to stay here even after the eviction if we have nowhere else to go,” he said.

Accusations of selective targeting also surfaced. “It feels like only the Muslims of Lower Assam are being targeted,” said a local man. “We are poor people who live by hard work. Why are we always on the receiving end?”

A woman, visibly distressed, stood with tears in her eyes and said, “I’ve lived here for 60 years. My entire family, my neighbours, all of us have called this place home for decades. And now, suddenly, we’re told we have no right to be here. We don’t know where to go. We are simply being uprooted without a plan.”

As the eviction looms, these voices from the ground highlight a growing demand, not just for justice, but for empathy and rehabilitation.

Also Read: "Eviction in Paikan Postponed for Jumma, Will Begin on July 12": Assam CM