In Assam Village Where Bulldozers Rolled, Children Left To Fend For Themselves

The villagers claim that the demolition was carried out despite the houses being built legally.

Three days after bulldozers rolled into Assam's Salonibari village and demolished a few houses allegedly belonging to those accused in police station attack, scenes in the village paint a picture of helpless villagers trying to fend for themselves. The villagers claim that the demolition was carried out despite the houses being built legally.

Many adults have fled the villages, leaving behind their children to fend for themselves.

The authorities maintain that the houses were demolished as part of an anti-encroachment drive. The demolition work, they say, was carried out since the houses were illegal as there are allegations that the land was encroached upon or bought with forged documents.

A mob attacked the police station on last Friday and set it on fire, apparently to protest against the alleged custodial death of 39-year-old Safiqul Islam. The protesters alleged that Mr Islam, a fish seller, was killed in custody, after he failed to pay bribe to policemen.