On November 1, 2019, the Daman district administration demolished around 90 houses that it alleged were illegally constructed on a 700-metre stretch of government land between Lighthouse Road and Jampore beach in Daman. According to an Indian Express report, most of the occupants are local fisherfolk who have been living on this land for over 10 years. On November 2, Rakesh Minhas, collector and district magistrate, Daman, announced in a notification that the Government High School of Bhimpore, Nani Daman, and Government High School, Moti Daman, would serve as temporary detention centres till further orders. When Land Conflict Watch called up Sagar Thakkar, tehsildar of Daman, to find out if there was a link between the two, he said, We had served the eviction notice to all occupants staying illegally on the land two months in advance. He, however, did not clarify the reason behind the anti-encroachment drive nor shared details about the two schools being turned into prisons. When Land Conflict Watch called him again to establish if there was a link between the two, he did not respond. On November 3, some 70 people were arrested while protesting against the governments decision and eviction. Police resorted to lathi-charge and used water cannons to disperse protesters and imposed Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code to prevent large gatherings. On November 4, while addressing a press conference, Minhas announced that the affected families would be provided houses under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Awas Yojna, adding that the cheapest housing loan would be made available to the beneficiaries. The houses that have already been built under the scheme should be given on a priority to those whose houses were demolished, he said.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Rehabilitation
Government Bodies Involved in the Conflict:
District collector
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Other Parties Involved in the Conflict:
People who were evicted
Legislations Involved in the Conflict:
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Forced evictions
Legal Status:
Out of Court
Name(s) of Court(s)
Case Number
Nature of Protest
Protests/marches
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Arrest/detention/imprisonment, Lathi charge/tear gas/pellets
Reported Details of the Violation:
At least 70 people who were protesting against their eviction from a plot of government-owned land were detained by the Union Territory Administration of Daman and Diu. Police resorted to lathicharge and water cannons to disperse the protesters.
Date of Violation
November 3, 2019
Location of Violation
Moti Daman
Has the Conflict Ended?
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?