In July 2025, the Assam government carried out a massive eviction drive across three revenue villages of Charuabakhra, Santoshpur and Chirakuta Part 1 to reclaim 3,500 bighas (over 450 hectares) of land in Dhubri district to make way for a proposed thermal power project.
Initially proposed as a 3,400 MW facility by the Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL), the project received in-principle approval from the Assam Electricity Regulatory Commission (AERC) in August 2025 to enhance energy self-sufficiency. This followed the state Cabinet’s approval of the Assam Thermal Power Generation Project Promotion Policy 2025 in May, aiming to attract large-scale investments and add 2,000 MW by 2030, scaling to 5,000 MW by 2035.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma inspected the Dhubri site in June after local protests in Kokrajhar, where the state was initially mulling establishing the project. The move aligned with scrapping parts of the clean energy policy in October 2025, threatening renewable investments but prioritising thermal to meet long-term demand.
During the eviction drive, the government demolished 1,700 structures on government "khas" land in Dhubri district, displacing 1,400-2,000 families primarily consisting of Bengali-speaking Muslims. Khas land is defined as government land with common rights, available for settlement and not leased out. The drive, involving 100 bulldozers and 2,000 police personnel, turned violent with stone-pelting and lathi-charges, leading to injuries and detentions. The police detained Raijor Dal chief Ashraful Islam and MLA Akhil Gogoi who were interacting with residents at the eviction site. Some who were rendered homeless by the demolitions also reported harassment by police officers following the eviction drive. They were dropped in Goalpara district by police vehicle after a few hours.
The eviction notice was issued under the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation, 1886. It mentioned that Rs 50,000 will be offered to each landless family, and promised resettlement in Boyjer Alga village under the Athani Revenue Circle in Dhubri. Many affected families who hold Miyadi patta land have approached the High Court.
Residents have also pointed out that the resettlement site, Boyjer Alga, is a low-lying area, prone to flooding and erosion. They claimed that the resettlement area lacks basic infrastructure like drinking water, roads, healthcare and schools.
In Chapar, circle officer Shashee Bhusan Raj Konwar told The Times of India over 90 percent of families had vacated the land at Chirakuta Charuwa Bakra village after eviction notices were served without any objection. "The families have been provided a one-time financial assistance of Rs 50,000 each. Moreover, the families have been given alternate land at Boyjer Alga village at the Athani revenue circle in the district," he added.
On 23 October 2025, the Gauhati High Court dismissed a petition by residents of Charua village under Chapar Revenue Circle against the allotment of their Patta lands to another entity by showing such lands as government 'khas' land. The court noted the government assurance to follow the due process of law while acquiring land.
In November 2025, Adani Power Ltd, announced its plan to invest nearly Rs 48,000 crore to establish a 3,200 MW greenfield ultra supercritical thermal power plant. It is expected to be commissioned in phases beginning December 2030.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Refusal to give up land for the project
Demand for legal recognition of land rights
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Region Classification
Rural
Type of Land
Common and Private
Non-Forest (Other than Grazing Land)
What was the action taken by the police?
Preventive Detention
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
2
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Released from detention
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
Don't Know
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973
Section 144
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Project underway despite protests
Original Project Deadline
Whether the Project has been Delayed
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Agricultural land, Residential area
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Source/Reference
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
40000
Type of investment:
Investment Expected
Year of Estimation
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Land Reform Laws, Land Reform Laws, Land Acquisition Laws
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
No
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Forced evictions/dispossession of land
Lack of legal protection over land rights
Non-rehabilitation of displaced people
Land record discrepancies
Legal Status:
In Court
Status of Case In Court
Disposed
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
No
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Gauhati High Court
Case Number
Case No. : WP(C)/2913/2025
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Lathicharge/teargas/pellets
Arrest/detention/imprisonment
Displacement
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
BNS
Reported Details of the Violation:
During the demolition drive on 8 July, the police detained Raijor Dal chief Ashraful Islam and MLA Akhil Gogoi who were interacting with residents at the eviction site. Some who were rendered homeless by the demolitions also reported harassment by police officers following the eviction drive. (https://thewire.in/government/raijor-dal-ashraful-islam-detained-near-dhubri-eviction-site)
Date of Violation
September 2, 2025
Location of Violation
Chapar, Bilasipara, Dhubri
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
Dhubri district administration, Bilasipara Sub-Divisional Officer, Assam Government
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL)
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Adani Group
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
Bengali-origin Muslim families, migrant Muslims
What was the action taken by the police?
Preventive Detention
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
2
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Released from detention
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
Don't Know
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973
Section 144
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
