Assam
,
Bakrikuchi
,
Nalbari
Published :
|
Updated :
Nalbari evictions raise questions over land rights and state power in Assam's grazing reserves
Reported by
Sarup Sinha
Legal Review by
Anmol Gupta
Sourabh Rai, Amrita Chekkutty
Edited by
Anupa Kujur
93
Households affected
446
People affected
2016
Year started
11
ha.
Land area affected
93
Households affected
446
People Affected
2016
Year started
11
Land area affected
Key Insights
Sector
Land Use
Reason/Cause of conflict
Encroachment by Non-Right Holders (Other than Caste-based)
Conflict Status
Ongoing
Ended
Legal Status
Region Classification
Rural
Ended
Sector
Land Use
Reason/Cause of conflict
Encroachment by Non-Right Holders (Other than Caste-based)
Conflict Status
Ongoing
Ended
Legal Status
Region Classification
Rural
Ended
1
Summary

On 30 June 2025, the Assam government launched a large-scale eviction drive in Bakrikuchi village in Nalbari district. The operation targeted what authorities described as illegal encroachments on village grazing reserve (VGR) land, resulting in the displacement of over 90 families. Local accounts suggest that these families had lived there since 1981 after facing river erosion.

Officials estimate that 452 bighas of this grazing land have been encroached upon. However, the eviction aimed to clear 82 bighas of VGR land, which is specifically designated for cattle grazing. The rest of the land is reportedly used for agricultural and fishery purposes.

The administration had issued a notice to vacate on 3 June 2025. In response, many affected residents approached the Gauhati High Court seeking relief. However, the court decided in favour of the government, declaring the land must be cleared of encroachments because the land in question was designated VGR land.

To prevent potential tensions, the district administration ordered restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) in and around the Bakrikuchi Reserve.

The eviction left several families stranded, with many seen camping on the village’s main road with their belongings. Most of the displaced residents are Bengali-origin Muslims and are asking for proper resettlement.

Among the demolished structures were not only homes but also schools, mosques, and Anganwadi centres. A circle officer informed the press that a detailed report is being prepared to determine further action regarding the remaining 370 bighas used for agriculture and fisheries.

Fakar Uddin Ahmed, a 40-year-old resident whose home was demolished, said, “We have been living here for 28–30 years. We moved here in the 1980s from other parts of Barkhetry—places like Bhanganmari, Kurihamari, and Bhelengimari panchayats—after losing land to river erosion. We live simple lives here, mostly working as farm labourers.”

2
Fact Sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Demand to retain/protect access to common land/resources

Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Region Classification

Rural

Type of Land

Common

Non-Forest (Grazing Land)

What was the action taken by the police?

How many people did the police detain or arrest?

What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?

Did the person face any violence while in police custody?

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

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

Original Project Deadline

Whether the Project has been Delayed

Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users

Residential area, Other Natural Resource extraction/dependence

Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict

Source/Reference

Total investment involved (in Crores):

Type of investment:

Year of Estimation

Page Number In Investment Document:

Has the Conflict Ended?

No

When did it end?

Why did the conflict end?

4
Additional Information

Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:

Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Government of Assam; District administration of Nalbari, Gauhati High Court

PSUs Involved in the Conflict:

Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?

Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached

Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:

Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?

Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:

5
Information on the use of criminal law

What was the action taken by the police?

How many people did the police detain or arrest?

What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?

Did the person face any violence while in police custody?

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

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?

Legal Supporting Documents

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Author
Reported by
Sarup Sinha

Sarup is a researcher and doctoral student in Political Science at the North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong. His research interests lie in the area of ethnic and land conflicts, political ecology and development and urban spaces of Northeast India. He has a Masters’ degree in Development Studies from the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati. He has previously done research/internships with NABARD, Oxford Microfinance Initiative (renamed Oxford Development Consultancy) and CSDS (Lokniti Programme).

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Fact sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Demand to retain/protect access to common land/resources

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

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?

Status of Project

Original Project Deadline

Whether the Project has been Delayed

Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users

Residential area, Other Natural Resource extraction/dependence

Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict

Source/Reference

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Exclusive monthly policy briefs, stories from the ground, Quarterly Analytics report, Curated Expert talks, merchandise and much more.


Support our work.
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