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Time of India
09-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Prepare for SIR of electoral rolls: Assam CEO to district officials
GUWAHATI: Assam's chief electoral officer (CEO) Anurag Goel has issued a high-priority directive to all district election officers (DEOs) to prepare for a special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls before Election Commission (EC) releases its schedule in 15 to 20 days. The CEO's order mandates that all electoral registration officers (EROs), assistant EROs, and booth-level officers (BLOs) be in place before the SIR schedule is announced. The state will go to the polls early next year for the first time since the redrawing of its 126 constituencies in 2023. The directive also requires that additional BLOs for newly created polling stations be identified in advance, pending EC approval. It bars the assignment of election staff and data entry operators to other duties during SIR, particularly in Bodoland Territorial Council districts, which are preparing for separate autonomous council polls, likely to be held in Sept as hinted by CM Himanta Biswa Sarma. The CM has intensified his call for an SIR of electoral rolls, framing it as essential to cleanse voter lists of alleged illegal entries. He said Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's recent remarks on vote theft and Aadhaar-linked voter IDs inadvertently validated the need for the exercise. "In Assam, there are Bangladesh-origin Miya Muslim brothers, and their names appear in Barpeta, Guwahati, Kerala, and even Delhi." The last intensive revision was conducted in 2005. DEOs have been instructed to share the updated 2005 voter list with recognised parties, activate district contact centres for public queries, and ensure daily updates to grievance service portal .
Time of India
09-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Assam CEO orders urgent prep for voter roll overhaul
Guwahati: Assam's chief electoral officer (CEO) Anurag Goel issued a high-priority directive to all district election officers (DEOs) to prepare for a special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. This preparation anticipates an official schedule from the Election Commission within 15 to 20 days. The state will go to the polls early next year, marking the first election since the redrawing of the state's 126 constituencies in 2023. The CEO's order mandates that all electoral registration officers (EROs), assistant EROs (AEROs), and booth level officers (BLOs) be in place before the SIR schedule is declared. The directive also mandates that additional BLOs for newly created polling stations must be identified in advance, pending ECI approval. It prohibits assigning election staff and data entry operators to other duties during the SIR, particularly in Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) districts, which are preparing for separate autonomous council elections, likely to be held in Sept as hinted by CM Himanta Biswa Sarma. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dementia Has Been Linked To a Common Habit. Do You Do It? Memory Health Click Here Undo Sarma has intensified his call for a special intensive revision of electoral rolls, framing it as essential to cleanse voter lists of alleged illegal entries. Sarma said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's recent remarks on vote theft and Aadhaar-linked voter IDs inadvertently validate the need for SIR. He mentioned that in Assam, there are "Bangladesh-origin Miya Muslim brothers" and their names appear in Barpeta, Guwahati, Kerala, and even Delhi. "In villages here, even names of dead people are there in the rolls. It is a disease. That is why SIR is being done in Bihar," Sarma said. This administrative push comes amid growing unease over the SIR process nationally. In Bihar, where the exercise is already underway ahead of the Oct–Nov assembly polls, the opposition INDIA Bloc accused the ECI of orchestrating a politically motivated purge of voter rolls. The objective of an intensified revision is to ensure that the names of all eligible citizens are included in the electoral roll to enable them to exercise their franchise. No ineligible voter should be included in the electoral rolls, and complete transparency in the process of addition or deletion of electors in the electoral rolls should be introduced. The last intensive revision for Assam was conducted by the EC in 2005. The Assam CEO's directive also emphasizes transparency and political engagement. DEOs have been instructed to share the updated 2005 voter list with recognised parties and to activate district contact centres (DCCs) for public queries, ensuring daily updates to the NGSP portal without incurring extra costs. As Assam braces for its post-delimitation election, the SIR process is poised to become a litmus test — not just of administrative efficiency, but of the ECI's ability to balance electoral integrity with democratic inclusivity. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !
NDTV
08-08-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Rahul Gandhi Indirectly Backing Voter Roll Revision: Himanta Sarma
Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has taken sharp digs at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Responding to Mr Gandhi's comments regarding voter list revisions, Mr Sarma accused him of hypocrisy and indirectly backing the Election Commission's special intensive revision drive. "Rahul Gandhi is talking about special revision, linking names with Aadhaar, and removing duplicate entries. But if you look closely, you'll find names of people who once migrated from Bangladesh, our 'Miya Muslim' brothers, listed in Barpeta, Guwahati, Kerala, and even abroad," Mr Sarma said. He referred to the issue as a "disease" of duplicate and fake voter entries, adding, "Even dead people's names still appear in village voter lists. This is a long-standing problem that the Election Commission is trying to address. In a way, Rahul Gandhi has endorsed the Election Commission's efforts." The Assam Chief Minister also criticised West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over her recent statements opposing the National Register of Citizens (NRC). "Who asked her to obey the NRC? Suddenly, she says, 'I will not obey Biden.' Did Biden ask her to obey him?" Mr Sarma said sarcastically. "No one has ordered NRC now. She is using this rhetoric to create fear among Bengali people and secure votes. For the past five years, she has remained silent on NRC. Now that elections are approaching, she has started speaking about it again," he said.
News18
28-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
Mega Eviction Drive To Begin On Assam-Nagaland Border, Over 100 Bulldozers And Excavators Deployed
The eviction, scheduled to begin on July 29, targets over 11,000 bighas of land within the Rengma Reserve Forest Assam is set to initiate one of its largest eviction operations in Uriamghat on the Assam-Nagaland border to evict alleged minority settlers from the 13,921-hectare land of Rengma Reserve Forest. Over 10,000 people are to be cleared from the encroached forest land. The state government has deployed more than 1,000 security personnel, along with heavy machinery such as excavators and bulldozers, to carry out the operation. While the forest authority claims that around 10,958 hectares have been encroached, many of the affected settlers—including members of the so-called 'Miya Muslim' community—remain in the area. Assam Talks With Nagaland The Assam government has initiated discussions with Nagaland to ensure coordination and prevent tensions ahead of the large-scale eviction drive in Uriamghat, a sensitive stretch along the Assam–Nagaland border in Golaghat district. The eviction, scheduled to begin on July 29, targets over 11,000 bighas of land within the Rengma Reserve Forest, allegedly encroached by settlers—many of whom are minority Muslim families suspected to be undocumented immigrants or migrants from within Assam and neighbouring states. To avoid misunderstandings, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma acknowledged Nagaland's cooperation and stressed that the operation will be carried out peacefully. In response to fears of a potential spillover of evicted persons, the Nagaland government issued an advisory on July 21 directing all deputy commissioners to maintain strict vigilance and prevent any illegal influx. Security measures have been stepped up across the border, including mobile checkpoints and ILP (Inner Line Permit) verifications. Eviction Drive A total of 10,959 bighas of land is to be cleared, for which more than 2,000 police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed. Around 900 encroachers have already left the area, with about 1,400 trucks used for relocation. However, more than 1,000 encroachers are still occupying the forest land. On July 25, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma visited the Rengma Reserve Forest in Uriamghat, Golaghat district. 'In Uriamghat, I personally reviewed the extent of encroachment of forest land and how the forest has been destroyed and converted into commercial plantations," CM Sarma stated in an X post. Local MLA Biswajit Phukan expressed hope that the eviction drive would be completed peacefully. 'We have a strong CM, and under the leadership of CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, the indigenous people of Assam will be safe in every corner of the state," stated the BJP MLA from Sarupathar constituency. view comments First Published: July 29, 2025, 00:44 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Wire
08-07-2025
- Politics
- The Wire
Over 2,000 Miya Muslim Families Uprooted by Assam Govt's Proposed Thermal Plant in Dhubri
Government Kazi Sharowar Hussain a minute ago A 41-year-old resident of Chirakuta village claimed that Jeet Adani, the director of the Adani Group, must be associated with the thermal power project as he had visited the site on April 22. With nowhere else to go, many evicted families have decided to temporarily settle near relatives in the char areas of the Brahmaputra. Residents transport their dismantled homes on boats. Photo: Kazi Sharowar Hussain. Barpeta, Assam: On July 8, the Dhubri district administration started a demolition drive tearing down over 2,000 Miya Muslim households at the site of the Assam government's proposed 3,400-MW thermal power plant in Bilashipara, in Dhubri district. A public announcement was made on July 4. The very next day, on July 5, officials from the Chapar Circle Office put up eviction notices in different palaces of villages including Charuabakhra Jangal Block, Chirakuta Part-1, Part-2 and Santoshpur, forcing the families to evacuate their homes. Spanning over 5,000 bigha of land across four villages, locals allege that the eviction drive will displace as many as 10,000 landless Miya Muslims. A massive eviction drive underway at the proposed site of a 3,400-MW thermal power plant in the Bilashipara area of Dhubri district. Photo: Special arrangement The thermal power project was initially planned in a tribal-dominated area in Kokrajhar District. After strong protest by locals, it was shifted to the Bilapshipara area of Dhubri District – an area predominantly inhabited by the Miya community. Standing on the premise of her dismantled home, Ajiran Nessa, 52, a resident of Chirakuta village, says, 'Suddenly, we are told to pack and move with nothing but 50,000 rupees. Where will we go?' 'How can we live in the middle of the river where the government wants to settle us?' she asks. The notice was issued under the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation, 1886. It mentioned that Rs 50,000 will be offered to each landless family, and promised resettlement in Boyjer Alga village under the Athani Revenue Circle in Dhubri. An official evacuation notice, issued under the Assam Land and Revenue Regulation, 1886, is seen in Charuabakhra village. The notice instructed residents to vacate the land by 6 July, 2025 and promised Rs 50,000 compensation for landless families. Photo: Kazi Sharowar Hussain The eviction process was further accelerated after Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited the proposed thermal plant site on June 24. Abdur Rashid Seikh, 41, a resident of Chirakuta village claimed that Jeet Adani, the director of the Adani Group, must be associated with the thermal power project as he visited the site on April 22. While families who hold Miyadi patta land are still staying in the area, most residents of the four villages – those residing on 'government land' – had to vacate their homes following the eviction notice. The resettlement site, Boyjer Alga, is a low-lying Char area prone to flooding and erosion. Residents of the evicted site claimed that the resettlement area lacks basic infrastructure like drinking water, roads, healthcare and schools. 'It's like they're throwing us away,' says 70-year-old Kashem Ali, who has lived in Charuabakhra village for more than 50 years. The resettlement area at Boyjer Alga Part-II, which is a low-lying Char village that lacks basic facilities. Photo source: Google map Families in Santoshpur Jangal Block hurriedly load their belongings onto a tractor trolley after being given just two days to evacuate. Photo: Kazi Sharowar Hussain Ajahar Ali, now in his 60s, settled in Santoshpur after the Brahmaputra floods washed away his home in 1981. He is now facing displacement again. 'This is not about development,' he says, 'This is a way of harassing Miya Muslims by the Himanta government.' Ajahar Ali, a resident of Santoshpur, has been displaced for the second time in his life – first by the Brahmaputra in 1981 and now by an eviction drive. Photo: Kazi Sharowar Hussain 'Police opened fire' An estimate said that over 3,000 police personnel have been deployed in the area amid the eviction drive and over 100 bulldozers are being used to demolish the houses. Residents have said that the administration has been using threats and intimidation to pressure families into evacuating quickly. As people staged a protest against the eviction drive, they were met with police action. At least three women were injured in a confrontation with the police in Charuabakhra village. Locals identified them as Masiya Khatun, 40, and Rumiya Khatun, 45 and Hafiza Khatun, 30 of Charuabakhra village. A resident says, 'I ran away from the place when police opened fire.' Police patrol in Charuabakhra village during the evacuation at the proposed thermal power plant site in Dhubri, Assam, on July 5. Photo: Kazi Sharowar Hussain Sofiur Rahman, a 34-year-old resident of Charuabakhra, says that 357 landless families, 129 with Miyadi patta and 83 allotted landholders have approached the high court. He adds that many landless families have already left the area under pressure and threats from the administration, even while their cases are still pending. 'The administration is continuously pressuring residents to accept the 50,000 rupees cheque and leave the area,' says Rahman. The hearing of the case is scheduled for July 22, as per a human rights lawyer in Guwahati, who wished to remain anonymous. Amid the deployment of police personnel, residents vacate their homes in Shantoshpur village as part of the eviction drive in Dhubri, Assam, on July 5. Photo: Kazi Sharowar Hussain 'BJP government is torturing people' Many human rights activists and political leaders have condemned the eviction as a brutal and targeted action by the BJP-led government. Residents in Charuabakhra village dismantle their homes after being served eviction notices in Dhubri, Assam, on July 5. Photo: Kazi Sharowar Hussain On Tuesday (July 8) morning, Raijor Dal leader and MLA Akhil Gogoi travelled to the eviction site. He was seen interacting with the evicted people in Charuabakhra. However, the police detained him and took him to the Chapar police station. He was dropped in Goalpara district by police vehicle after a few hours. Addressing the media later, he alleged, 'Only because they are Muslims, the communal BJP government is torturing the people. It is a political strategy for them.' Residents of Chirakuta village carry dismantled roofs of their houses in Dhubri, Assam, on July 5. Photo: Kazi Sharowar Hussain CPI(M) leader Suprakash Talukder accused the government of promoting a pro-corporate agenda while specifically targeting Muslim minorities. 'This eviction drive is part of a larger plan to transfer land and public resources to corporate interests,' Talukder said. 'The BJP is framing this as a patriotic act to 'save Assam from the Miyas,' while using communal rhetoric to deepen social divisions for political gain.' Residents of Chirakuta village carrying their belongings as they vacate their homes following the eviction notices in Dhubri, Assam, on July 5. Photo: Kazi Sharowar Hussain Sofiur Rahman says, 'Forced eviction is a complete violation of human rights.' 'We have lived here for generations. How can we suddenly be asked to leave without proper rehabilitation? Where are we supposed to go?' he asks. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
