Behlolpur Khadar: Demolition Drive Renders People Homeless

Behlolpur Khadar Demolition Drive: Communities Devastated

In the heart of Delhi, on July 5th, a sudden demolition drive tore apart communities in Behlolpur Khadar near Sarai Kale Khan. These structures were not just simple shanties; they were homes to people who have been the backbone of this city for over three decades. Many residents allege that their jhuggis were razed without adequate notice.

"Taken by Surprise Without Notice"

Abdul Razzak, a resident, recounted the shocking event, "When we woke up in the morning, at about 6:30 A.M., the police and the JCB came here. We were told that from all four sides our jhuggis would be demolished. Before this, yesterday, we did not receive any written notice. We didn’t even know that our jhuggis would be demolished. We were ready to go to work in the morning, but then we saw that the police had come and had started demolishing our jhuggis. They broke all our things. We managed to remove some of our household articles, but some got lost in the demolition. A young boy also got injured because of the JCB."

"We Want Justice"

Kiran Devi, another resident, expressed her anguish, "We want justice. Our children go to school, and their education is affected. We have been displaced. We are dying in the heat. No one comes to take stock of our situation. Is 7 A.M. a time to demolish jhuggis?"

Unheard Pleas and Broken Promises

The residents allege that they did not get prior notice about the demolition. "Yesterday evening they told us verbally and in the morning they started bulldozing our jhuggis. Is this the way? Is our children’s education getting spoiled or not? The poor know about poverty. Why can’t the rich understand poverty? We poor people help the rich win elections. We vote for them, and that is how they become rich. After they assume power, they forget us," lamented Devi. 

 

Devi has been living in the area for about fifteen years now. The sudden and unannounced demolition has left many families in distress, raising questions about the handling and humanitarian considerations of such actions.

Heartless Execution of Demolition Drives in Delhi

While there is a consensus on upholding the law and not supporting illegal settlements on government land, the execution of demolition drives in Delhi has come under severe criticism. Families are given no warning, no time to gather their belongings, and no alternative shelter is provided. The enforcement of the law is not in question, but the inhumanity of its execution is.

Injured in the Chaos

In the chaos and haste of the demolition, safety was overlooked, leading to tragic consequences for some of the most vulnerable. A young boy was injured during the demolition.

Mohit, the injured boy described the incident: "I was sitting there in the morning when the JCB started its demolition. I was sitting far away, but things started falling on me. I got submerged under the pile. I fell unconscious, and I don’t know what happened after that."

Manju Devi, Mohit's mother, shared her harrowing experience: "I removed all my household items and was sitting far away. The JCB took a turn, and all the items fell upon my child, causing him to fall unconscious. He was taken to the hospital by the police. They were asked for money at the gate, and they left him and ran away."

The incident highlights the need for more humane enforcement of the law, ensuring that the safety and well-being of residents are not compromised in the process. The heartless manner in which these demolitions are executed has left many families in distress and has raised serious questions about the authorities' approach to such sensitive operations.

Desperate Pleas from Displaced Residents

Most of the people we spoke to expressed their despair, having nowhere to go. Amidst the devastation, we encountered a man, his voice filled with anguish, screaming and shouting about his plight. His words echoed the frustration and desperation felt by so many who have lost everything.

"If you had to demolish our jhuggis, you could have given us 4 to 5 days' notice," the man shouted. "They just demolished them just like that. I lost my money. I lost all my things."

Residents here possess Aadhaar cards and voter ID cards, all bearing their current address. It's a bitter irony that, despite paying their electricity bills regularly, they feel that all of a sudden they have been hammered with the truth that they are illegal residents.

The sudden developments have left them feeling betrayed and displaced, questioning the validity of their very existence in a place they have long called home.

"Stayed for Years and Demolished Without Notice"

Nizam, a resident, shared his story: "My name is Nizam, and I have been staying in this jhuggi since my childhood. My parents have also been living here for the last 35 years. I was born here in 1994 and grew up here. I studied at the nagar nigam’s school in Sarai Kale Khan. We have been staying here for so many years. All our documents have been made from this address, including our Aadhaar Card, Voter ID card, PAN card—A to Z, all our government documents have been made from this address."

He continued, "Even the Delhi government’s regulations say that if houses are demolished, we should be rehabilitated. Even the honourable Prime Minister has also said that if the jhuggis are demolished, the residents should get homes. In between, it was their slogan: wherever there is a jhuggi, there will be a house. Then why haven’t they given us homes? They give us false promises during the nagar nigam elections, the assembly elections, or the general elections. Then they run to us and tell us to vote for them and that they will give us homes. So far, no one has heard us out."

"Even if we have been staying on government land for the last 30-35 years, if they wanted to demolish our jhuggis, then at least they had to give us a notice a day before. We were not given any notice. Without giving us notice, they just told us that in the morning they would demolish our homes at 9 A.M. and to remove our items. But not even at 9 A.M.; they just came here at 5:06 A.M. and started bulldozing our jhuggis. More than half the population here couldn’t even get the time to remove their household articles. They lost all their items," Nizam lamented.

"Left with Nowhere to Go"

Ali, another resident of Behlolpur, recounted his experience: "DDA and the police came. We were told in the evening, around 4:30 PM, that they would come at about 10 AM the next day, but they arrived early in the morning. Some children had not even woken up. A few had gone to school. They just came and started demolishing our jhuggis using JCB. We have children. Where do we take our children? Where do we stay? My ration card was made in 1996 from here. There is an electricity connection here for at least 150 jhuggis. So, where do we go from here?"

Compliance with Orders or Lack of Humanity?

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) officials assert that they are merely complying with the orders of the National Green Tribunal to remove encroachments near the Yamuna flood plains and ensure the Yamuna banks are free from illegal settlements. However, residents of Behlolpur tell a different story. They claim they were not given any prior written notice and allege that the police only verbally informed them in the evening that a demolition would take place the next day. This lack of formal communication has left them feeling blindsided. 

"No Time to Save Our Belongings"

Deepa, a resident, recounted her experience: "When we woke up in the morning at about 6 AM, we noticed that police forces were around our homes. The JCB was there. We were waking up our children, lifting them, and putting them outside our homes. They didn’t give us a chance to explain our situation. They didn’t give us time. They didn’t even hear us out. When we told them, 'Please give us 10 minutes to take our household items out,' they told us to let the articles remain inside; they would get demolished."

The Behlolpur demolition issue transcends mere legality; it is a matter of human rights. While it is important to address illegal settlements, the question remains: can it be done with compassion and humanity? 

Sunil Kumar Aledia, Founding Member of the Centre for Holistic Development, emphasised the plight of the residents: "The demolition that took place in Behlolpur, Yamuna Khadar, and in the night shelters involved people who were helping the city function. They have been staying there for the last 20-25 years. Even Akshardham Temple, Vikas Bhawan, and the Delhi Secretariat are also in the Yamuna flood plain. But when it comes to the poor, they just use the excuse of the Yamuna flood plain to displace them. Legally, they need to give prior notice and state that the place has to be vacated. To date, no demolition has taken place where the government gave prior notice. They just come abruptly and demolish. The government always demolishes during a holiday and in the morning when the court is closed, so that when everything is over, the court thinks, 'How can we stay this now because everything is over?'"

Aledia further highlighted the human rights aspect: "See, this is a human rights issue. The guidelines also suggest that during monsoons, harsh winters, and harsh summers, such demolitions should not take place. A week ago, in Delhi, we saw how the rains caused flooding. Now the monsoons are due. The 6,000 people who have come onto the streets are in a disaster situation. The government should make arrangements so that they get shelter."

Balancing Legal Compliance and Humane Treatment

The enforcement of the law should not strip individuals of their dignity and basic rights. It is crucial to find a balance between legal compliance and humane treatment, ensuring that those affected are given adequate notice, assistance, and a chance to relocate with dignity. The sudden demolitions in Behlolpur Khadar have left many residents in a state of despair, raising important questions about the methods and humanity behind such actions. As the city continues to grow and develop, it is crucial to remember the people who contribute to its functioning and to treat them with the respect and compassion they deserve.

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