Evictions are at an all-time high as bulldozers gain momentum in the country

Several incidents of evictions and demolitions have been reported in many parts of the country where the poor and minorities have been displaced and have nowhere to go.

House Eviction

Despite only being halfway through the second month of the year, evictions and demolition drives across the country are becoming more prevalent. It is no longer about whether the state is governed by the ruling party or not. These demolition drives are aimed at not just religious minorities but also the poor and marginalised who have probably been living on these lands for decades. 

The courts have also seen these cases from a humanitarian angle and stressed upon the need for rehabilitation of those displaced instead of merely labeling them as “encroachers”. As evidenced by the following recent incidents, the state and administration have failed to do so.

The most unfortunate of these recent incidents was the one from Kanpur Dehat where a mother and daughter were burnt alive as they were inside their hutment when the bulldozer came for them. While the police at first claimed that they set themselves on fire, eventually a case of murder was registered against  the SDM and others.

In Assam’s Sonitpur, 2,500 Bengali Muslim families were rendered homeless as a demolition drive was conducted, displacing these families for their lands where they were cultivators.

In UP’s Ghaziabad, in Sahibabad people’s homes were being demolished, allegedly without any notice. In a video posted on social media, a woman can be seen pleading to the police and other people present, to not go ahead but she was being dragged.

 

In Jammu & Kashmir, the spate evictions and demolitions began in January after the UT administration issued an order dated January 9 directing all local administrative officials to remove “encroachment” on State Land, including Roshni and Kahcharai (Grazing) land. Since then, the administration, led by the Revenue Department, and Tehsil-level officers are assisted by the Jammu and Kashmir Police to carry out such drives.

At one such demolition drive in Srinagar, locals were seen in a video claiming that no notice was issued to them and that they have genuine documents pertaining to the land.

 

 

A visibly agitated Hindu priest in Jammu was seen on video protesting the eviction drives. He said, the Muslim rulers didn’t harm us. BJP is bulldozing out homes”

 

in Patna, Bihar, two shopkeepers immolated themselves while protesting their forcible evictions by the Railway Police
 

In Madhya Pradesh’s Bhaukhedi about 180 homes were demolished and among those demolished were homes built under the Central housing scheme called PM Awas Yojana.

 

 

In Hyderabad, Telangana, around 150 houses were demolished and the occupants have claimed that no notice was given to them.

 

 

related:

Bombay HC seeks policy on old settlements for protected monuments; stays evictions at Vishalgarh

MP: In CM’s Home District, Bulldozers Reduce 20 Homes Built Under PMAY to Rubble

Shutdown Observed in Parts of Kashmir Against Ongoing ‘Eviction’ Drive

Even “encroachers” need to be rehabilitated says Courts

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