Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) inaugurated an eviction operation in February targeting a protected wetland Silsako Beel in Guwahati, Assam. During this initiative, almost 250 “illegally constructed” houses were dismantled in Silsako Beel, and further plans have been made to demolish hundreds more residences today.
On Friday, tensions increased rapidly in Silsako, Guwahati, as hundreds of women came on to the streets to demonstrate their opinions against the eviction campaign that was led by the GMDA. The police and local administration had been deployed to redeem approximately 130 acres of land, which they claimed to be encroached upon. The eviction actions from administration have triggered protests, resulting in clashes between law enforcement authorities and demonstrators.
It was really shocking to know that, women from the protesting community started tearing their own clothes as gesture of refusal against the eviction. They indicated a strong determination, by stating that they would prefer to face the consequences rather than forcibly getting removed from their homes. Efforts were made by the police to disperse the crowd who were protesting, but the women remained steadfast in their position. The current situation remains highly volatile, with no proper resolution in sight.
According to the officials, advance notice have been provided by the authorities for the residents to vacate the area, but the residents counterclaimed that they weren’t able to find alternative accommodations and declared that the government did not make any suitable arrangments for the inhabitants to relocate.
The Magisterial investigation was previously initiated at Silsako Beel in Guwahati, Assam into the “eviction drive”. This inquiry was prompted the Assam Human Rights Commission (AHRC) and was led by additional district magistrate (ADM) Priyanshu Bharadwaj. Bhaskar Jyoti Kalita, the assistant commissioner and executive magistrate of Kamrup Metro district in Assam, has been in association with Priyanshu Bharadwaj in conducting the probe.
