BY TC News Desk
Agartala, 16th December 2025: After nearly 13 years of legal battle, the Sabroom Sub-Divisional and Municipal administration has finally complied with the High Court’s directive, bringing closure to a long-standing dispute.
The case was initiated by Gauri Shil Dey, daughter of late Mukunda Lal Shil, a resident of Ward No. 7 under Sabroom Nagar Panchayat. With no resolution from local authorities despite years of litigation, she approached the High Court. The matter drew widespread attention, being reported consistently across state newspapers and electronic media.
Following prolonged hearings, the Division Bench of the High Court ordered the Sabroom administration to act against illegal encroachment. The disputed land Dag No. 4051, Khatian No. 451, originally a pond, had been gradually filled with soil since December 2012 and converted into housing structures, even encroaching upon the municipal drainage system.
Acting on the court’s order, Sub-Divisional Magistrate and Executive Officer of Sabroom Nagar Panchayat, Abhijit Singh Yadav (IAS), personally supervised the demolition drive on Tuesday morning. Officials from the municipal body, police, and Border Security Force assisted in the operation, using bulldozers to dismantle the unauthorized construction.
Local sources revealed that Uma Shil, another daughter of late Mukunda Lal Shil and owner of Mamoni Medical Hall in Sabroom Bazaar, along with her husband Chittaranjan Shil allegedly known in the area for illicit activities had undertaken the illegal construction to claim sole possession of the ancestral property. Allegations also surfaced that land belonging to Mukunda Lal Shil’s differently-abled son, Mrinal Kanti Shil, was forcibly sold to traders Dulal Saha and Gopal Som.
Residents expressed anger over further encroachments, stating that Uma Shil and her husband had illegally built shops and staircases on Ward No. 7’s main road, narrowing the passage to such an extent that even small vehicles, let alone ambulances or fire services, could not enter. Locals warned that in case of an emergency, the consequences could be disastrous.
The case was represented in the High Court by advocates Purushottam Roy Barman and Kumar Chakraborty. The demolition drive has been widely welcomed by residents of Sabroom Bazaar and surrounding areas, who hailed the administration’s decisive action as a long-awaited step towards justice.
