Bulldozers Flatten 1000 Slums in Delhi Drive

Delhi : A major anti-encroachment drive took place in Delhi’s Ashok Vihar Phase-2 area on Monday, where the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) launched a large-scale bulldozer action. The operation resulted in the demolition of nearly 1000 slum structures, creating panic and emotional unrest among the affected residents. The area had housed a settlement that stood for over 30 years. According to officials, the operation was part of a planned clearance in which out of 1650 existing jhuggis, 1078 families had already been granted alternative accommodation under the rehabilitation scheme. However, the remaining families had been resisting eviction, raising concerns about improper notice and inadequate arrangements.

The eviction was conducted under heavy police presence and faced stiff resistance from the locals as well as political leaders. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Akhileshpati Tripathi was taken into police custody when he attempted to intervene in the demolition process and support the protesting slum dwellers. The situation quickly turned tense as bulldozers moved in early morning hours and began razing homes, many of which were still occupied. Cries of helpless residents echoed across the site, many of whom claimed they had nowhere else to go.

As per DDA sources, 250 slum units were spared from demolition based on a court stay order. Authorities stated that the operation was legally mandated and aimed at clearing public land from decades-old encroachments for future development. However, the humanitarian aspect of the drive has sparked public outrage. Videos from the site showed families scrambling to collect belongings from the debris, and children watching their homes crumble with tears in their eyes.

The mass demolition has drawn criticism from human rights activists and opposition parties, calling it a cruel and inhumane act in peak monsoon season. While the DDA maintains that legal protocols were followed and alternate flats have been allotted to the majority, the displaced residents and activists argue that not all affected people were included in the list and the execution lacked sensitivity. The incident has reignited the debate on urban eviction policies and the treatment of marginalized communities in the name of development.