Eviction without rehabilitation: an act against humanity

  We have found that the police of Tala Police Station delivered shocking inhuman treatment to the dwellers in the footpath beside Raja Manindra Chandra Road, opposite of Ashubabur Bazar touching the boundary wall of MIG (Middle-Income Group) Quarter under Police Station: Tala, District-Kolkata. On 16.8.2009 a team of police from the said police station dispossessed and evicted the dwellers from their shanties. The police personnel demolished the shelters and the household articles of the people who belonged to the most economically lowest strata of the society. The most of the dwellers belonged to Muslim community. The large numbers of people along with children were badly affected by the eviction just before the festival of Eid and Durga Puja. Even they were evicted during rough weather monsoon season.

 Numbers of victims were allegedly physically assaulted and humiliated. The victims alleged that they were not given prior notice properly and they were not discussed of possible eviction. Police informed that the ‘order’ of eviction was brought to police station by one official of the Municipal Corporation on 16.8.2009 and for that the police evicted the dwellers from the footpath on the same day. Though the police is not bound to comply any illegal ‘order’.  

The behavior of the police and the authorities of Kolkata Municipal Corporation go to show they acted only to serve one contractor who got work order of ‘beautification’ programme. Both the police and KMC are aware that it is the state’s obligation to provide adequate housing for all, everyone has right to protection against any forced eviction. Such atrocities on the poor people are condemned by us and it is a great assault on the democratic fabric of the society and utter violation of rights guaranteed by our Constitution and enshrined by the international laws.