Mumbai Tension: 16 Arrested After Violence Erupts During Bandra Slum Demolition
Mumbai Tension: 16 Arrested After Violence Erupts During Bandra Slum Demolition
Violence broke out in Mumbai's Bandra as a ₹600 crore land clearance drive turned chaotic. 16 arrested and multiple cops injured. Read the full report here.
Things took a chaotic turn in Mumbai this week as a massive anti-encroachment drive in Bandra East spiraled into violence. What was supposed to be a standard clearance of railway land became a battlefield, resulting in several injuries and multiple arrests.
The trouble started at the Garib Nagar slum, located right next to Bandra station’s eastern side. For two days, Western Railway officials had been working to reclaim land estimated to be worth a staggering ₹600 crore. While the first day and the early hours of Wednesday went relatively smoothly, things escalated quickly around 3 PM.
The flashpoint occurred when demolition teams moved to remove an illegal prayer structure near the Bandra skywalk. This triggered a strong reaction from the local residents. According to reports, a mob began hurling stones, kitchen utensils, and other objects at the police and demolition crews. To bring the situation under control, the police were forced to resort to a lathi-charge to disperse the unruly crowd.
The aftermath of the clash is significant. Seven police officers and six protesters sustained injuries during the stone-pelting. Medical teams at Bhabha and V N Desai hospitals treated the injured, with most being discharged later. On the legal front, the police didn't hold back; they have already arrested 16 people and detained several others. An FIR has been registered for unlawful assembly and assaulting government officials.
This drive isn't just about a few huts; it targets around 500 structures spread across 5,200 square metres. Western Railway needs this land for crucial expansion projects. However, the timing has sparked criticism from the local community. Many residents expressed distress over the demolitions happening just before Eid and raised concerns about the lack of proper rehabilitation plans for those losing their homes.
For now, the area remains under heavy security, and key roads around Bandra station have been sealed off to prevent further unrest. While about 60% of the clearance work is reportedly finished, the atmosphere in the neighborhood remains incredibly tense.
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