Leaders from the Solidarity Youth Movement based in Kerala were detained by Assam Police while attempting to visit victims affected by the recent evictions in Dhubri district. This operation, commonly referred to as “Bulldozer Raj,” has drawn criticism under the BJP-led administration of Himanta Biswa Sarma.
Thoufeeq Mampad, the State President, State Secretary Shabeer Koduvally (also a secretary of the National Federation of Youth Movement), and Sajid P.M. were taken into custody and transported to Chepri Police Station. They were stopped at a police checkpost while traveling to Dhubri, accompanied by Ramees Abdulla, President of the Assam Students Islamic Organisation (SIO).
During their detention, authorities confiscated their personal belongings, including mobile phones, and denied them communication with the outside world, citing restrictions on visits to the area. After several hours, they were released but instructed to leave Assam immediately. Reports indicate that police escorted them to a hotel and accompanied them to the West Bengal border.
“This action is condemnable,” asserted T. Ismail, State General Secretary of Solidarity. He referred to the situation in Assam as a form of genocide, emphasizing that the state has prohibited any connections between external entities and the victims. Solidarity has called for united humanitarian efforts across the country to oppose what they term as a fascist regime, urging widespread protests against these actions.
The ongoing eviction campaign has been criticized widely as it appears to specifically target Bengali-origin Muslim communities, colloquially known as Miya Muslims, under the current government. The operation carried out in July 2025 is reported to be one of the most significant eviction drives, involving bulldozers clearing land for a proposed 3,400 MW thermal power plant by the Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL).
Despite having valid documentation, many individuals faced eviction, including approximately 1,400 families in Dhubri who allegedly resided there since the 1980s. These evictions have reportedly occurred without prior notice or adequate rehabilitation plans, leaving many vulnerable, particularly those already displaced by river erosion.
The operation’s coercive nature was underscored by the heavy police presence and the use of bulldozers, raising concerns about the government’s motives. Official statements from Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma framed the evictions as necessary to mitigate “migration” into eastern Assam, a narrative criticized as a tactic to further marginalize Muslim communities.
In addition to the evictions, the detention of Bengali Muslims in Assam’s so-called “detention camps” has faced severe scrutiny. These facilities, initially established for individuals declared foreigners by tribunals under the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and Foreigners Tribunals (FTs), have been characterized as overcrowded and inhumane. Detainees face indefinite detention without due process.
Although these facilities were rebranded as “transit camps” in 2021, conditions reportedly remain dire, exemplified by the Matia Transit Camp in Goalpara.
The original report appeared on Maktoob Media.
Tags: Assam police, Solidarity Youth Movement, forced eviction, Dhubri victims, delegation detention
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