Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has defended his government’s ongoing eviction drives, describing the issuance of eviction notices as “the most humane” phase of the process. Speaking at the inauguration of a new BJP district office in Chirang on July 9, Sarma asserted that the majority of the local population supported the evictions in Dhubri district, and warned that authorities would use machinery to clear encroachments if notices were ignored. Responding to criticism from the All Assam Minority Students’ Union (AAMSU), Sarma insisted that legal procedures were followed and cautioned against any militant response to the evictions. He further argued that the cleared land would enable industrial development and benefit local communities, even as the drive sparked public backlash and court scrutiny over its impact on displaced families.