More than 750 Muslim families have been evicted in Assam’s Dhubri district, where authorities carried out a large-scale demolition operation over claims of illegal occupation of disputed land, according to Indian media reports.
NDTV reported that authorities deployed more than 60 bulldozers and a large police force to demolish homes and religious sites in the area.
The operation also affected mosques, other places of worship and graveyards, triggering strong protests from local Muslim residents.
Distressing scenes were reported at shrines and graveyards as families mourned the loss of their homes and religious sites. A large number of women gathered inside a mosque to offer prayers during the operation.
Human rights experts have raised concerns about discrimination against religious minorities, particularly Muslims, in India. They have linked the growing concerns to policies associated with the BJP’s Hindutva ideology.
