Protesting against the re-demolition of a house in Sion Koliwada proved unfortunate for 25 residents and activists who were taken into custody for the same.
Protesting against the re-demolition of a house in Sion Koliwada proved unfortunate for 25 residents and activists who were taken into custody for the same. They applied for bail at the Kurla magistrate court on Friday that later sent them for medical examinations after allegations of police brutality.
The police said the arrests had been made under sections 143, 147, 149, 152, 332, 353, 504 and 506. Madhuri Shivkar, a leader of the resistance, was also charged under sections 447 and 34. Most of these charges concern rioting, unlawful assembly and ‘causing hurt to a public servant,’ even though the residents swear that their protest had been peaceful.
On May 29, police had demolished the home of Kalpesh Shivkar, arrested activist Medha Patkar and seven others. Deeming the demolition illegal, people began to rebuild the house the next day but were stopped by over 100 security personnel and policemen.
The residents protested all night long but were helpless before their opposition. The next evening, police dragged away those who tried to protest by lying down before bulldozers. Shivkar’s house was demolished again and the police arrested many including Jameel Akhtar Sheikh, whose house in Ambujwadi slum in Malad had been destroyed two days earlier, and 24 other women.
The issue dates back to 1999 when Sudhakar Shetty of Sahana Builders approached the residents with plans to redevelop the land. Residents have been protesting against the builder, claiming that when he failed to get the consent of the requisite 70% of the residents, he forged their signatures on the consent forms. This was revealed by a response to an RTI request.
Residents had taken this up with the Sion police on February 26 but they had refused to file an FIR stating that it fell under the purview of BMC. The issue of this forgery remains pending at the court.
Shetty, however, maintains that he has played by the rules. Speaking to DNA, he said, “When the BMC demolished one hut, locals brought ladies from outside and started to rebuild it. That is why the BMC demolished it again the next day.” He added that the proposal had been passed only after locals had given their consent, and when the case went to the high court, it was dismissed. “We have all the necessary documents. Why didn’t they get relief from the court if the documents were forged?” he said.
Shetty’s supporters allege that residents tried to blackmail the builder and deny irregularities with the proposal.
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