The Assam government continued its eviction drive in Guwahati’s Jalukbari area for the second consecutive day on Saturday, with authorities carrying out a large-scale clearance operation along the railway corridor near Joymati Nagar.
The eviction exercise, being jointly conducted by the district administration and the Railway Department, began early in the morning and will continue throughout the day. The operation aims to clear alleged encroachments from land alongside the Jalukbari railway line.
Heavy machinery, including bulldozers, was deployed as officials oversaw the removal of structures from the area. According to authorities, the drive is part of an effort to free railway land from unauthorized occupation and facilitate future development and safety measures.
The operation has triggered distress among affected residents, many of whom claim to have lived in the locality for years. Scenes of anguish were witnessed as families scrambled to salvage their belongings while demolition work progressed.
On Friday, the first day of the drive, bulldozers demolished more than 200 residential structures in the area. Officials indicated that the clearance operation would continue until the targeted stretch is made encroachment-free.
Local residents said the locality is home to more than 500 families, raising concerns about displacement and rehabilitation. Many affected families have appealed to the government for alternative arrangements and adequate support following the eviction.
The eviction drive comes as the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led government intensifies its campaign against encroachments across Assam, with Jalukbari — the Chief Minister’s own Assembly constituency — witnessing one of the latest large-scale operations.
The administration have maintained that the drive is being conducted in accordance with legal procedures, while residents continue to express concern over their future and housing security.