Demolition drive in Powai leads to clashes, 35 injured

Claiming that the structures were erected illegally, civic officials said that they had received directives from the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) to remove them. Accordingly, notices were served to the slum-dwellers on June 1, providing nearly a week for the residents to vacate the premises. The colony had around 500 shanties that housed several families.

After a brief negotiation, the residents allegedly began hurling stones at the authorities. In response, police personnel charged with batons, detaining some individuals who resisted the eviction. During the altercation, 20 police personnel, including an assistant police commissioner, sustained injuries, along with five BMC engineers, officials said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police zone X, Mangesh Shinde, said the police have detained nearly 50 people who were allegedly involved in throwing stones at the police and the BMC personnel during the anti-encroachment drive.

“We are in process of registering an FIR against more than 50 people on charges of 353, 326, 324, 336, 338 and 146 of the Indian Penal Code for attacking public servants, causing grievous hurt and rioting. Once the FIR is registered the detained 50 will be placed under arrest,” he said.

Later adequate security was provided to the BMC to continue the drive, the officer added.

“Such attacks on municipal employees will not be tolerated. Our employees have been assured that the corporation stands with them,” stated a BMC release issued later in the day.

Most of the structures in the colony consisted of single and two-storey duplex residential structures with roofs made of asbestos and tarpaulin sheets.

Local residents alleged that the authorities prevented them from retrieving their belongings from the huts. Photos and videos of the incident were circulated on social media.

Municipal commissioner and state-appointed administrator, Bhushan Gagrani, visited the site to assess the situation.

“The resistance appeared pre-planned. As we approached the scene, slum-dwellers were already positioned, waving political flags and chanting slogans. Despite prior notice, they resorted to violence,” stated an official.

“Most of us have been residing here for over a decade, with all relevant documents. Why are we suddenly being asked to relocate. Police forcefully evicted us from our huts and denied us access to our belongings,” said Balu Pal, a resident.

Stone-pelting continued for half an hour until local police requested additional reinforcements of 500 SRPF personnel.

Meanwhile, the BMC clarified that notices were issued to slum-dwellers under the Maharashtra Regional Town Planning (MRTP) Act, empowering authorities to take action against unauthorised constructions after issuing notices.

“We served legal eviction notices on June 1, allowing them 48 hours to vacate the premises. The BMC initiated the demolition today (June 6), after giving ample time for relocation,” said BMC officials, providing a copy of the notice to The Indian Express.

“We received no such notice; we were only informed two days ago that our shanties would be razed today (Thursday),” said Gopal Kale, a resident.

According to civic documents, the land was initially allocated to a group of workers for construction of temporary shelters in 2007. However, the dwellings stayed, and over time, slum-dwellers constructed duplex residential structures on the plot, officials said.

Former Congress MLA Naseem Khan, also a local resident, told The Indian Express that the BMC failed to provide adequate time before demolishing the slums, asserting that the civic authorities should take responsibility for their rehabilitation.