Assam: Students protest alleged encroachment on school land in Sontoli, demand eviction of encroachers

Students of Dekachang Regional High School in Sontoli, under Assam’s Chamaria Assembly constituency, staged a protest demanding the removal of alleged encroachments from land belonging to the educational institution.

The dispute has also raised safety concerns following allegations that petrol was thrown at protesting students and that there was a plan to set them on fire. The allegations have not been independently verified, and further investigation is required to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.

According to information available, the school authorities purchased 67 lechas of land from a person identified as Haji Mahuruddin in 1988. The land reportedly remained under the school's possession for several decades. However, members of the seller's family have allegedly attempted to reclaim the property by putting up barricades, triggering a dispute with the school community.

School authorities had reportedly submitted written complaints to the Samaria Revenue Circle Officer and Boko Police Station, seeking intervention to protect the institution's land and remove the alleged encroachment. The students subsequently took to the streets, demanding action to resolve the dispute and restore the school's possession of the land.

The alleged threat to the protesting students has added to concerns among teachers, parents and local residents. Members of the school community have called for measures to ensure the safety of students and prevent intimidation during protests over the land dispute.

The incident has also drawn attention to the response of the local administration and police. The school community is seeking intervention to address the ownership dispute, examine the allegations of threats against students and ensure the institution's property is protected in accordance with the law.

There was no official response from the administration or police available at the time of writing. The allegations concerning the use of petrol and the alleged plan to set students on fire remain unverified.