A major protest has emerged in the Tipkai-Paglijhora Part-II area, located within the Parbhatjhora subdivision of Assam’s Kokrajhar district. The protest centers around the opposition of Bodo indigenous communities to an eviction drive initiated for the development of a thermal power plant. This project is being spearheaded by the Adani Group in collaboration with the Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL).

The protest gained momentum on Wednesday, when officials from the Adani Group, accompanied by members of the Kokrajhar district administration, arrived at the project site to commence eviction proceedings. Their intention was to demarcate boundaries and begin preparations for the proposed thermal power plant. However, their actions were met with immediate and forceful resistance from local residents. The tribal communities accused the administration of initiating the process without obtaining consent from the people who have traditionally inhabited the area.

According to available information, the Adani Group aims to acquire around 3,600 bighas of land for the thermal power plant. Local tribal inhabitants claim that they and their forefathers have lived on this land for generations, and that the area in question holds both cultural and ancestral significance. The protesters allege that the land deal was undertaken in a non-transparent manner, without prior public notice, consultation, or any effort to seek the consent of those affected. Such actions, they argue, amount to a serious violation of their constitutional protections under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.

The Sixth Schedule is a crucial legal safeguard designed to protect the rights of tribal communities in India’s northeastern states, particularly Assam. It ensures autonomy in governance and includes strict provisions to prevent the alienation of tribal land to non-tribal entities. The Bodo protesters assert that the land acquisition for a private entity in a Sixth Schedule area constitutes a breach of these protections.

Daorao Dekrab Narzary, the Executive President of the Boroland Jan-Jati Suraksha Manch, emerged as one of the key voices in the protest. He strongly criticized the decision to transfer land in a Sixth Schedule region to a private company, highlighting both legal and environmental concerns. Narzary warned that the establishment of a thermal power plant would not only displace indigenous families but also severely damage the region’s forests and ecological balance. He insisted that any land acquisition without community consent would be met with ongoing protests.

Despite the rising tensions and growing discontent among local communities, the district administration has not yet issued an official statement regarding the land acquisition or the points raised by the protesting tribal groups. This silence has further fueled distrust and anxiety among the residents.

The situation in Kokrajhar reflects a broader and often contentious debate over development versus indigenous rights. It underscores the critical importance of ensuring transparency, public consultation, and legal compliance when implementing large-scale infrastructure projects, especially in constitutionally protected tribal regions. The unfolding protest highlights the fragile balance that must be maintained between promoting economic development and respecting the rights and identities of indigenous communities.