Sat Aug 02 21:39:38 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text and a rewritten version as a news article:

**Summary:**

The Assam government’s ongoing eviction drive targeting encroachers, particularly Bengali Muslims, from forestlands is raising concerns and causing ripple effects in neighboring states. Driven by a BJP promise to secure land and a Gauhati High Court order, these evictions have a history dating back to 2016 and have intensified since 2021. While the government claims it’s reclaiming encroached land and combating “land jihad,” critics see it as a politically motivated move to polarize voters ahead of the 2026 elections. Neighboring states, fearing an influx of evicted individuals, are tightening border controls and inner-line permit regulations. The issue is further complicated by long-standing boundary disputes between Assam and its neighboring states, who accuse Assam of settling “illegal immigrants” in disputed areas.

**News Article:**

**Assam Eviction Drive Sparks Regional Tensions, Border Crackdowns**

**Guwahati, Assam – August 3, 2025** – A controversial eviction drive in Assam targeting alleged encroachers of forestlands, predominantly Bengali Muslims, has ignited a wave of concern and prompted heightened security measures by neighboring states. The Himanta Biswa Sarma-led BJP government claims the initiative is essential to reclaiming state land and protecting it from “land jihad.”

The evictions, which have been ongoing since 2016, have escalated significantly since Sarma took office in 2021. The government cites a Gauhati High Court order as justification for removing illegal settlements from protected areas. However, critics argue the drives are politically motivated, designed to polarize voters ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls.

“This is nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to demonize a specific community and consolidate their voter base,” stated a spokesperson from a leading opposition party in Assam.

The situation has raised alarm among Assam’s neighbors, including Nagaland, Manipur, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, and Mizoram. Fearing a surge of evicted individuals crossing their borders, these states have implemented stricter border controls and intensified the enforcement of inner-line permit regulations. Nagaland police reportedly turned back 200 vehicles attempting to enter the state, while extremist groups announced the creation of a task force to patrol the Assam-Nagaland border.

The evictions have a bloody history. At least five people have died since 2016 as a result of the eviction drives, including the most recent eviction that displaced 1,080 families in July.

Beyond the immediate humanitarian concerns, the eviction drive highlights the long-standing border disputes between Assam and its neighboring states. These states accuse Assam of historically settling “illegal immigrants” in disputed territories as a strategic maneuver to claim land. The Gauhati High Court has stepped in to resolve the tension, directing Assam and its 4 border states to form a committee to help coordinate the clearing of illegal settlements in forest lands.

The eviction drive is sure to stoke regional political tensions as the Assam government continues to implement its plan to reclaim encroached land.

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