Assam Evictees Allege Voter Disenfranchisement in Dimoria Constituency
In a contentious development in Assam, over 500 residents from Kachutoli in Sonapur have raised serious allegations of being denied their democratic right to vote. These individuals, who were evicted in 2024 for allegedly encroaching on tribal land, claimed that their names were deleted from the electoral rolls during a special revision, preventing them from casting ballots in the recent elections.
Eviction and Electoral Roll Deletions
The affected families, now living in makeshift tarpaulin shelters at the eviction site following a court stay, expressed frustration over their inability to participate in the electoral process. Bilal Uddin, a 39-year-old resident, stated that he and his wife Momtaj Begum could not vote as their names were shown as deleted under the Sonapur Govt Jr Basic School polling booth in the Dimoria (SC) assembly constituency. "Hundreds of houses were demolished during the eviction. However, my house along with eight others was not demolished following a stay order from the court. But our names were deleted from the electoral roll," he said, highlighting that many evicted people, despite being Indian citizens, missed the vote.
Muktar Ali, a 24-year-old evictee, shared a similar story, noting that his family settled in the area around 2000 after shifting from Mayong. "We had no idea that the land fell under a tribal belt area when we purchased it. In 2024, we were evicted, and subsequently, our names were deleted from the electoral roll during the special revision, even after we showed all documents," he added. Ibrahim Ali alleged a conspiracy behind the deletion of names, mentioning a pending court case and awaiting a verdict.
Official Response and Context
Jiten Kakati, the Booth Level Officer (BLO) of the Kachutoli LP School polling booth, denied allegations of preventing voters from voting. He explained that higher authorities had instructed the evicted individuals to apply for enrolment from their new locations, as they are Indian citizens. "No such situation took place at the booth. Those making the allegation are the people evicted from Kachutoli. Higher authorities had asked them to apply for enrolment from their new place so they could vote from there, as they are Indian citizens. However, the land in question falls under the tribal belt, and the families were evicted for allegedly occupying tribal land. Therefore, their names were deleted from their previous residential address. They should have applied for enrolment in the electoral roll from their new locations or from their original place of residence," he stated.
The evictions at Kachutoli were carried out to clear illegal encroachments on protected tribal land in the Kamrup Metro district. This area falls within the South Kamrup Tribal Belt, restricted to Scheduled Tribes under the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation, 1886. Authorities demolished around 240 houses on September 9, 2024, affecting Bengali-speaking Muslim families who had settled decades earlier. A follow-up eviction on September 12 sparked violence, resulting in the deaths of two young men, Haidar Ali and Jubahir Ali, and injuries to over 30 people, including officials.
Legal Interventions and Ongoing Disputes
In response to the evictions, the Gauhati High Court stayed further actions on September 20, 2024, after residents claimed pre-1950 land titles, directing verification by the district commissioner. The Supreme Court also intervened later that month, ordering a status quo. These legal measures have temporarily halted evictions but have not resolved the underlying issues of land ownership and voter rights.
The situation underscores a complex interplay of land rights, tribal protections, and democratic participation in Assam. As the evicted families continue to live in temporary shelters, their struggle for recognition and voting rights remains a focal point of local and national attention, with implications for governance and social justice in the region.
