Assam house demolition dispute in Goalpara

On September 7, the Goalpara district administration in Assam demolished 73 houses across five revenue villages in the Krishnai area. District Commissioner Pradip Timung stated the operation was intended to protect agricultural land, water bodies, and natural drainage channels from unauthorized settlements that contribute to flooding. Timung noted the action was not communal.

In response, minority organizations, including the North East Minority Student Union, contested the drive, claiming affected families held legal documents for private plots. They argued the dispute concerned land classification rather than ownership and called for compensation.

On September 16, the Gauhati High Court intervened, observing that the administration appeared to be “misusing” the law. Justice Devashis Baruah noted that, prima facie, there was no imminent danger to justify the destruction of the homes and suggested the Disaster Management Department Act, 2005, may have been misused. The court has requested affidavits from district officials and will determine potential compensation for the victims following a hearing scheduled for October 13.