Azad Maidan cleared of shanties

Government agencies on Thursday ended a protest of several months when they demolished 43 shanties at Azad Maidan, where the protestors had encamped condemning the slum demolition drive.

At least one male protestor was slapped in the face and a woman pushed by male policemen. About 40 protestors were also detained by the police and later released.

The Court had given the order after it took notice of a written complaint from the Mumbai Cricket Association earlier this year. Besides the issue of encroachment, the MCA claimed in its letter about standoffs between the protestors and the cricket players.

The HC converted the letter into a PIL. Deputy Director of the state sports department NB Mote said, “This is not a maidan for staying in.”