In rare instance of compensation after demolition, Assam families still struggling

Last month, the Supreme Court called a halt to the demolition of properties of those accused of any crime – a policy used by several Bharatiya Janata Party state governments to punish Indians, especially Muslims. With the court poised to lay down guidelines for such demolitions, Scroll’s reporters went back to several victims of “bulldozer injustice” to document the toll of state action on their lives.

In May 2022, a 39-year-old Muslim trader from Assam’s Nagaon district was detained by the police allegedly because he was drunk. The next day, Safiqul Islam was found dead.

An angry mob of residents from Salonabari village, which included Islam’s family members, set fire to the police station where he had been held.

The following day, seven homes – belonging to Islam, his brothers, cousins and uncle – were demolished.

This was the first instance in Assam of “bulldozer justice” – a policy of punitive demolitions used by several Bharatiya Janata Party state governments against those accused of crimes, especially Muslims. There are no provisions in Indian law that allow for such action by the state.

The Nagaon demolitions were an exception in another respect – in November 2022, the Gauhati High Court hauled up the state government for razing the homes, and even ordered it to pay Rs 32.5 lakh...

Read more