Barpeta: Akhtar Hussain, district president of the Satra Mukti Sangram Samiti (SMSS), the student wing of the the regional party Raijor Dal, was arrested by Dhubri Police on September 4 in connection with protests against a massive eviction drive in Bilasipara area under Chapar Revenue Circle that displaced around 2,000 Miya Muslim families on July 8.  

According to a notice served on Hussain's legal guardian – a fellow party member – by the district police, the activist was arrested in connection with case number 111/2025 under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), including 61(2) for criminal conspiracy, 126(2) for wrongful restraint, 221 for obstructing a public servant with discharge of functions, 132 for assault to deter public servant from discharge of duty; 324(3), 324(5), and 324(6) for mischief, 125(b) for act endangering life or personal safety of others, and 109(1) for attempt to murder. Police have accused him of creating a “law-and-order situation” on September 3 in connection with the eviction drive.

The notice also accused him of instigating people to join protests and throwing stones at police vehicles. 

The arrest came a day after Hussain, along with Raijor Dal leader Ashraful Islam and Socialist Party (India) leader Sandeep Pandey, were stopped by police while attempting to visit Chirakuta and Charuabakhra villages in Dhubri district where an eviction drive had taken place on July 8. Police initially detained Islam and Hussain at the Salkocha outpost, releasing Islam later that evening but transferring Hussain to Chapar police station for further questioning.

Sofura Khatun (44), to whom the police notice was served, alleged that Hussain had been arrested in a false case. She told The Wire, “He was detained yesterday. There was no case against him until 12.30 am on September 4. Now the police have accused him under several sections and is trying to send him to jail. This is completely unethical. He must be released.”

Speaking to The Wire, Sandeep Pandey strongly condemned the administration’s actions. He said,  “When we, along with Ashraful Islam and Akhtar Hussain, tried to talk to the victims, officials stopped us and claimed nothing had happened. I don’t understand what the Himanta Biswa Sarma government wants to hide, when everybody knows what has happened.”

Pandey also raised concerns over the impact of the eviction on children’s fundamental rights. “The right to education is being violated in the area in which the evictions took place. Hundreds of students are affected. How will they attend school?” he asked.

Pandey said that the government could not silence the movement. 

Ashraful Islam, another leader of Raijor Dal, who was also detained and later released, told The Wire, “When we initially asked the police about Akhtar’s arrest, they said he had been booked in an old case. When we asked for details of that case, they did not give us an answer.” 

He further alleged, “Akhtar Hussain has been deliberately and democratically raising his voice for justice for the victims of the evictions. To silence his dissenting and powerful voice, the administration is filing false cases against him.”

Islam also noted that the party or its members did not stage any protests on September 3. 

Raijor Dal, SMSS, and the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) have staged multiple protests since July, demanding rehabilitation, and condemning what they describe as targeted harassment of East Bengal-origin Muslims. Nazimul Haque, president of KMSS in Dhubri, said that Akhtar Hussain had played a leading role in these peaceful protests organised by them

With Hussain’s arrest, Raijor Dal leaders say that they expect further crackdowns on activists raising questions about the eviction drives.

The Wire attempted to contact the police officer, Matin Langthasa, who had carried out the arrest but was unable to reach him.

The eviction drive in Bilasipara on July 8, carried out to clear land for a proposed 3,400 MW thermal power plant, saw the demolition of at least 1,400 homes, with local residents claiming that more than 2,000 families – mostly Muslims of East Bengal-origin – were displaced.

During the demolition drive, Raijor Dal chief and MLA Akhil Gogoi was also detained while meeting affected families. 

Following the evictions, many displaced residents alleged that applications had been filed in their names to remove them from the electoral rolls. Several families also reported facing harassment by police officers in the weeks after losing their homes.

Mass evictions of people living in slums across cities, using force, allegations of harbouring ‘illegal migrants’ have acquired phenomenal pace in the past few months. Calling out certain demographics, like Muslims and those who speak in Bengali, as non-citizens and housing them in ‘holding centres’ has made the exercise acquire a menacing character. The Wire reports on people vital to building city infrastructure, living on the margins, now suddenly finding their citizenship challenged.

This article went live on September fourth, two thousand twenty five, at six minutes past six in the evening.

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