Punitive demolitions have emerged as a worrying tool of governance in India. In several instances across various states, authorities have deployed bulldozers to raze the homes of people accused of crimes, involved in protests, or belonging to communities viewed with hostility by the regime. Ostensibly carried out under the guise of removing “illegal” structures, these demolitions often occur immediately after an incident of unrest or dissent—suggesting a motive of retribution rather than routine law enforcement​. This trend, unironically dubbed “bulldozer justice” by a country increasingly tolerant of Hindutva policies, represents a form of extrajudicial punishment where state governments use demolition drives to collectively punish individuals and families, without due process​. Documentation of these punitive demolitions is critical to hold state actions accountable and bring transparency to this new facet of state violence. The Demolitions Project enters this fraught landscape as a unique and timely intervention. By systematically documenting incidents of…

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