GUWAHATI: The Assam government on Tuesday submitted before the Gauhati HC that a committee comprising the state’s chief secretary is inquiring into the bulldozing of the house of a Nagaon resident by police and said appropriate action shall be taken against the errant officials within 15 days.
The division bench of Chief Justice RM Chhaya and Justice Soumitra Saikia was hearing a suo motu PIL registered on the basis of the allegation that the house belonging to the Nagaon resident was bulldozed by the cops of Batadrava police station.
On being assured by the state government, the court directed it to “take appropriate decisions for compensating the persons affected by the illegal action of the officer.” The court has also asked the state government to produce a report of the same.
In May last year, the Batadrava PS was set on fire by a mob following the death of a 38-year-old fish seller named Safikul Islam in police custody. Saiful had allegedly refused to give bribes to the police for his release. Police had filed a charge sheet against 24 accused in connection with the case. During the investigation, five houses were demolished by the police and the administration the same month on the pretext that they were illegally occupying government land.
During a hearing of the suo moto case last November, the HC had rebuked the Assam Police for razing five houses in Nagaon without legal sanction. These houses belonged to five families allegedly involved in the arson of Batadrava police station.
The court had said there was no need for demolishing the houses in the name of probe. Emphasising that even searching a house requires permission, Justice Chhaya had said, “Will you dig up my courtroom in the name of investigation? It seems nobody in this country is safe.”
The division bench of Chief Justice RM Chhaya and Justice Soumitra Saikia was hearing a suo motu PIL registered on the basis of the allegation that the house belonging to the Nagaon resident was bulldozed by the cops of Batadrava police station.
On being assured by the state government, the court directed it to “take appropriate decisions for compensating the persons affected by the illegal action of the officer.” The court has also asked the state government to produce a report of the same.
In May last year, the Batadrava PS was set on fire by a mob following the death of a 38-year-old fish seller named Safikul Islam in police custody. Saiful had allegedly refused to give bribes to the police for his release. Police had filed a charge sheet against 24 accused in connection with the case. During the investigation, five houses were demolished by the police and the administration the same month on the pretext that they were illegally occupying government land.
During a hearing of the suo moto case last November, the HC had rebuked the Assam Police for razing five houses in Nagaon without legal sanction. These houses belonged to five families allegedly involved in the arson of Batadrava police station.
The court had said there was no need for demolishing the houses in the name of probe. Emphasising that even searching a house requires permission, Justice Chhaya had said, “Will you dig up my courtroom in the name of investigation? It seems nobody in this country is safe.”
