‘Everything gone’: Locals says as houses razed in Mathura | India News – Times of India
Scores of families have pitched tents by their demolished homes as they have nowhere to go. Children have stopped going to school and some senior citizens can be seen begging for food. Most residents eke out a meagre living. Their hopes now rest on rehabilitation.
All our houses already razed, say residents
Ruksar Bano and her family have been living under tarpaulin for the past seven days after their house was demolished on August 9. It was among the 135 dwellings marked as “illegal encroachments on government land” in the Nai Basti area near the Shri Krishna Janamasthan temple in Mathura.
“Everything is gone,” she said, pointing to the rubble that was once her house. “What use is the Supreme Court order asking for the bulldozers to halt?” The apex court on Wednesday ordered status quo with regard to the demolition ordered by the Railways on land with a mostly minority population.
Ruksar is not alone in her misery. Scores of families have pitched tents by their demolished homes as they have nowhere to go. Children have stopped going to school and some senior citizens can be seen begging for food. Most residents eke out a meagre living. Their hopes now rest on rehabilitation.
“We have been paying house tax, we have electricity bills and Aadhaar and ration cards. There are other documents affirming our residential status. The authorities refused to listen to us and demolished our houses. We’re poor and have no alternative arrangements to stay. The Supreme Court must take cognizance of our situation and direct the authorities for our rehabilitation,” said Sayeed Ahmed, 84.
Local residents had filed a petition in the civil court against the notice by the Railways earlier claiming land ownership. “The court had issued notice to the Railways seeking a response on the matter we had raised. Last month, the Railways sought additional time to file a response but didn’t provide detailed information. Even before responding to the notice, the demolition was done,” said Mansoor Ali, 48.
On August 14, lawyers Prashanto Chandra Sen, Radha R Tarkar and Aaron Shaw filed a writ petition in the Supreme court under Article 32 of the Constitution (remedies for enforcement of rights), seeking an urgent hearing.
“People have been living there for over 100 years. Demolition of their houses is absolutely illegal, arbitrary and in violation of Article 21 of the Constitution. We’ll seek rehabilitation of the affected people and highlight the need for action against those (involved),” said Tarkar. On Monday, the Railways said it had removed the illegal encroachments.
