Nagaon (Assam), The Assam government on Wednesday informed the Gauhati High Court that it has compensated people whose houses were demolished by the administration after they allegedly protested against the 'custodial' death of one. A police station was set on fire in Nagaon district of Assam. The fish trader, the victims' lawyer, said.
Victims' lawyer Junaid Khalid said that the state government informed the High Court in connection with the suo motu PIL (Case No: PIL (Su Moto)/3/2022) that a total of Rs 30 lakh has been given as compensation. . Five people have been paid, while payment of one is still pending.
The government paid Rs 10 lakh each for two pucca houses and Rs 2.5 lakh for five kutcha housing units, which the administration bulldozed at Batadrava in Nagaon district.Those who received compensation include Enamul Haq, Hifzur Rahman, Mojibu Rahman, Rafiqul Islam, Akkas Ali and the legal heirs of deceased Safiqul Islam.
Safikul's wife has not yet received the legal heir certificate, so her payment has been put on hold until the document is issued.
On May 21, 2022, a mob set fire to the Batadrava police station following the alleged custodial death of a local fish trader, Safikul Islam (39), which was taken over by police the night before.
A day later, district officials allegedly bulldozed seven houses, including those of Safikul and his relatives, in search of weapons and drugs hidden beneath the structures.
In November 2022, the then Chief Justice RM Chhaya had pulled up the Assa government over its action and wondered "if you want something tomorrow, you will dig up my courtroom".He said, "How can you do this? You can be anyone. No one is safe...if you demolish someone's house under the guise of investigation."
The court had then stressed that "bulldozing a house is not permissible under any criminal law" even if an agency is investigating a "very serious case".
The Chief Justice had further said that I have seen such incidents of bulldozers running on houses in films and in those too, search warrants are shown before the action.
Justice Chhaya had described the bulldozing of houses as tantamount to "gang war" and asked the Home Department to find better ways to investigate.In January 2023, the Assam government had informed the High Court that appropriate action would be taken against the officials found guilty of demolishing the houses of the accused.
Accordingly, the High Court had directed the State Government to pay compensation to the person affected by the demolition.
Victims' lawyer Junaid Khalid said that the state government informed the High Court in connection with the suo motu PIL (Case No: PIL (Su Moto)/3/2022) that a total of Rs 30 lakh has been given as compensation. . Five people have been paid, while payment of one is still pending.
The government paid Rs 10 lakh each for two pucca houses and Rs 2.5 lakh for five kutcha housing units, which the administration bulldozed at Batadrava in Nagaon district.Those who received compensation include Enamul Haq, Hifzur Rahman, Mojibu Rahman, Rafiqul Islam, Akkas Ali and the legal heirs of deceased Safiqul Islam.
Safikul's wife has not yet received the legal heir certificate, so her payment has been put on hold until the document is issued.
On May 21, 2022, a mob set fire to the Batadrava police station following the alleged custodial death of a local fish trader, Safikul Islam (39), which was taken over by police the night before.
A day later, district officials allegedly bulldozed seven houses, including those of Safikul and his relatives, in search of weapons and drugs hidden beneath the structures.
In November 2022, the then Chief Justice RM Chhaya had pulled up the Assa government over its action and wondered "if you want something tomorrow, you will dig up my courtroom".He said, "How can you do this? You can be anyone. No one is safe...if you demolish someone's house under the guise of investigation."
The court had then stressed that "bulldozing a house is not permissible under any criminal law" even if an agency is investigating a "very serious case".
The Chief Justice had further said that I have seen such incidents of bulldozers running on houses in films and in those too, search warrants are shown before the action.
Justice Chhaya had described the bulldozing of houses as tantamount to "gang war" and asked the Home Department to find better ways to investigate.In January 2023, the Assam government had informed the High Court that appropriate action would be taken against the officials found guilty of demolishing the houses of the accused.
Accordingly, the High Court had directed the State Government to pay compensation to the person affected by the demolition.
