Guwahati, May 24: The Assam government has compensated five Muslim families with Rs 30 lakh each, following the arbitrary demolition of their homes in 2022. This compensation was disclosed by the Assam government to the Gauhati High Court on Wednesday.
The demolitions occurred in the aftermath of an attack on the Batadrava police station in Nagaon district on May 21, 2022. The attack was a response to the custodial death of Safikul Islam, a local fish trader. The following day, police demolished the homes of the accused individuals involved in the incident.
The Gauhati High Court had previously condemned the demolitions, likening the police actions to a “gang war.” The court directed the state government to compensate the affected families, recognizing the demolitions as a violation of their rights.
Senior Advocate D. Nath, representing the Assam government, informed the court that the compensation had been paid to the families on Monday. Additionally, the family of Safikul Islam received Rs 2.5 lakh in compensation for his custodial death, which the court confirmed as a clear case of state liability.
The Gauhati High Court had earlier criticized the state’s actions, underscoring the need for accountability and justice in cases of custodial deaths and unlawful demolitions.
This move by the Assam government follows a commitment made on January 3 last year to ensure compensation and take strict action against those responsible for the demolitions.
