Desperate Sonapur Residents Make Emotional Plea to Supreme Court Over Brutal Kosutoli Eviction; Critical Hearing Tomorrow
Guwahati, Sept 29: Amid escalating tensions, 47 residents from Sonapur in Assam have petitioned the Supreme Court to halt an eviction drive targeting a 100-bigha plot in Kosutoli, alleging illegal settlements. The families filed a contempt petition, claiming the eviction contravenes a Supreme Court order from September 17, which temporarily suspended all nationwide eviction drives until October 1.
The petitioners argue that the district administration’s actions violate this order and seek contempt proceedings against the involved officials. The case is scheduled before Justices B.R. Gavai and K.V. Vishwanathan on September 30. The Supreme Court’s prior ruling permitted evictions of unlawful structures in public spaces but exempted existing residences. Nevertheless, the residents claim they were unaware of any impending eviction notices.
Tensions rose on September 12 when a confrontation between police and the residents during the eviction drive resulted in two fatalities. On September 13, Assam’s Director General of Police (DGP) G.P. Singh visited the scene and announced an investigation. He suggested a potential “conspiracy” behind the violent outbreak, hinting at external instigation.
The petitioners, who have lived on the Kosutoli land for 70 to 80 years without disputes with neighboring communities, found their homes marked with red stickers on September 13, signaling imminent demolition. They claimed no prior notification regarding the eviction was provided.
This eviction drive has sparked significant controversy, reflecting broader issues of land rights and legal interpretations of residency in Assam. As the Supreme Court revisits the matter, the residents of Kosutoli await a potential reprieve from impending displacement.
Original Story https://assamtribune.com/assam/residents-of-sonapurs-kosutoli-approach-sc-over-eviction-drive-hearing-tomorrow-1553076
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