[Police Station Arson Case] Rs. 30 Lakh Compensation Paid To Accused Whose Houses Were Demolished: Assam Govt Tells High Court

The Assam Government on Wednesday informed the Gauhati High Court that a compensation of Rs. 30 Lakhs has been paid to six affected persons whose houses at Batadrava in Nagaon district were demolished by the local Police in May, 2022.

The said affected persons are accused of arson in Batadrava Police Station in May, 2022 and their houses were allegedly bulldozed in the aftermath of the fire.

As per the letter dated May 20, 2024 issued by Superintendent of Police, Nagaon, to the Assistant Inspector of General of Police (Law), Assam, out of six persons whose houses were demolished, one person has been given Rs. 12,50,000/-, two persons have been paid Rs. 5,00,000/- and three persons have been paid Rs. 2,50,000/- by way of compensation.

The division bench of Chief Justice Vijay Bishnoi and Justice Suman Shyam was hearing a suo moto PIL registered on the basis of the allegation that that the house belonging to one of the citizens of Nagaon was bulldozed by the police personnel of Batadrava Police Station.

Earlier, the Court has asked the Finance Department, Assam Government to apprise the Court as to by what time the compensation would be paid to the affected persons whose houses at Batadrava were demolished by Assam Police in May, 2022.

D. Nath, Senior Government Advocate, Assam informed the bench that compensation in respect of the death of one Safiqul Islam, who died during the demolition drive, could not be paid since 'Next of Kin' certificate has not been produced till date. It was further submitted that that compensation to the family members or legal heirs of said Late Safiqul Islam will be paid as soon as the 'Next of Kin' certificate is submitted.

The bench granted four weeks' time to the State to apprise the Court regarding the action taken against the erring officials who were responsible for demolition of the houses of the affected persons illegally.

The matter is listed again on June 26.

Case Title: XXX v. In Re- The State of Assam & 4 Ors.

Case No.: PIL(Suo Moto)/3/2022

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