‘Vote BJP or get ready for eviction’: Assam forest officials threaten Muslim villagers

Residents of some Muslim-majority villages in Bjp-ruled Assam have been threatened by state government officials to either vote for the saffron party candidate or get ready for eviction with the help of bulldozers.

The threats by nine Assam forest department officials have driven the residents of Butukusi village falling under Assam’s Karimganj parliamentary constituency to approach a local court. Among the nine forest officials named is MK Yadava, the special chief secretary of forest.

Calling it a criminal intimidation and insult deliberately committed by the said forest officials, the residents have sought from the court of the chief judicial magistrate of Karimganj an order for an impartial inquiry on the matter by engaging an independent authority.

The complainants have categorically stated in their appeal to the court that there has been similar intimidation by those officials in neighbouring Muslim-majority villages too since April 21.

The petition said, “The accused along with Assam Police commando/forest force in 40/45 numbers in black attire, armed police, armed forest guards are going house to house in day and night at Butukusi and surrounding areas, and asking the residents of the houses, calling them out from (of) the house, taking photographs of their house/residential rooms, keeping them standing in front of their house, asking them to vote for the BJP candidate Kripanath Mallah or they will be evicted from their house by bulldozer after June 7, 2024 (the counting votes for the general elections.”

The petition also stated that the forest officials and those accompanying them used abusive and insulting languages like refugees, Bengalis from Bengal etc while addressing them (the village residents).

It added, “They asked us if we want to reside in our houses peacefully and happily, then we have to vote for the BJP candidate, or we will be evicted…”.