Agartala, November 17: Amid a strong stance by the Supreme Court against the rising trend of “bulldozer justice,” the Opposition CPIM in Tripura has accused state authorities of contempt, following the recent demolition of several homes for a bypass road construction project in Agartala.
A CPIM delegation, led by Opposition Leader Jitendra Chaudhary and other party MLAs, visited the Golchakkar area near the Agartala Integrated Check Post on Sunday, where multiple homes, reportedly built on government land, were razed by the Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC).
The demolitions occurred just two days ago, leaving dozens of families displaced beside many others who had left they homes following eviction notice.
According to residents, the majority of those affected belonging to economically disadvantaged sections and have been living in the area for the past 40 to 50 years.
While the government issued evacuation notices and offered compensation, the affected families argued that the financial assistance was insufficient to secure new land for housing or get rented house in such short notice. They instead demanded suitable alternative land or homes from the authorities.
The demolition was carried out as part of a project to construct a new state highway aimed at reducing traffic congestion by bypassing Agartala and connecting North and South Tripura districts.
Speaking to reporters, Jitendra Chaudhary, a former Member of Parliament, emphasized that while the CPIM supports developmental projects, the government must handle such sensitive issues with empathy and patience.
“There was no urgent need for the road construction to proceed immediately. The project could have been delayed by a few months, allowing these families more time to relocate,” he argued, pointing out that those affected are legitimate citizens with voting rights and proper legal documentation.
Chaudhary announced that the CPIM plans to seek a meeting with Chief Minister Manik Saha to discuss the matter and find a resolution that respects the rights of the displaced families.
Earlier this week, local residents affected by the eviction staged protests, blocking roads and burning tyres to express their anger and frustration.
