Shakur Basti residents dismiss claims of Northern Railway notices
The immediate problem after the demolition that slum dwellers now face is that of potable water and food.
Even as winter is setting in over the national Capital, Shakur Basti wore a look of a slum that had been ravaged by a summer fire and in the words of Delhi Commission for Women chief Swati Maliwal 'a man-made hell'.
The Northern Railway, accompanied by police, uprooted the shanty near Punjabi Bagh, west Delhi, on Saturday night. Over 5,000 poor dwellers, women and children included, were left roofless. Besides, a six-month old baby girl died, allegedly, due to the antiencroachment drive.
The demolition was part of the railways desperate attempt to free its properties, worth crores, of encroachment. Justifying its move in Shakur Basti, the railways said it had served three notices to the residents since March and the area was a 'soft encroachment'.
However locals punched holes in all arguments put forward by the railways. Jageshwar Das (45), who is a native of Darbhanga in Bihar, said he had been staying in the jhuggi since 1984. "Go ask the authorities," he said, "There used to be an Indian Oil depot here which caught fire sometime in the 1980s. Following that, fearing that the next fire would blow up the whole city, it was shifted to some border area. We have been living here since." Sabab Ali, fished out his Voter ID card and said, "All of us have valid papers. Some people came here as kids and have already reached the kabristan (graveyard). This settlement is that old."
Another local, Riyaz Khan, said: "It is not that our houses have been destroyed for the first time. Every time they come here like thieves in the dark of the night, paste a pamphlet-size eviction notice on some wall and flee. The same thing happened on December 11 as well. No one saw the notice. In any case how many people in this slum are literate? If we were that educated, why would we be living here anyway?" he questioned.
On Sunday at 10 am, they recalled, a large police force comprising men and women personnel lined up outside the dwelling. "Panic spread immediately," recalled Gulab Bai, "That is how Rukaiya got killed. No one got the time to collect their belongings. Uske maa-baap samaan dekhte ya bacche ko? (Her parents could have either looked after her or gathered their stuff at that time)." The railways has repeatedly clarified that the death took place before the drive, which began at 11:50 am.
Besides Rukaiya's death, several people were injured as well. Pawan Dev Sharma said, "I was picked up and thrown away by the JCB. The muscles along my ribs got torn. I got medicines from Bhagwan Mahavir Hospital." Mehbooda Khatoon (84) lay in a corner, under a tiny tarpaulin tent with her injured leg. Referring to her Sharma said, "She has nobody to look after her. We requested the police to spare her but they told us to either remove her or they would do it. They also said they need the land to be vacated at any cost."
The immediate problem Shakur Basti is facing is that of drinking water and food. "On Sunday night, we had no option but to get leftover food from a nearby hotel. The Aam Aadmi Party, Congress and some NGOs have set up bhandara (food stalls) but it's not enough. We need clean water, warm clothing and blankets as well," rued Das.
Political leaders, cutting across party lines, lined up at the basti on Monday. "Yes," said resident, Javed, "Rahul Gandhi came here today morning. He said 'hamare ghar ke darwaze aap sab ke liye hamesha khule hain' (the doors of my house are open for all of you). He knows for sure that none of us will even try and venture at his place."
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