Legal citizens wrongfully detained, claims activist; no aid amid heat after Chandola demolition

A large-scale demolition drive was carried out on Tuesday morning in the Chandola Lake area of Ahmedabad, involving over 2,000 police personnel, over 50 bulldozers, and 50 dumpers. The operation, reportedly in response to the recent Pahalgam terror attack in Kashmir that claimed the lives of 28 civilians, also saw several residents being detained under suspicion of being Bangladeshi nationals.

However, serious concerns have been raised by activists and affected residents, who claim that legal Indian citizens – many of whom have valid documentation such as ration cards, birth certificates, and voter IDs – were also wrongly detained.

Families in distress

 Speaking to Gujarat Samachar Digital, a resident at Chandola lake shared her plight. Tajma, a woman whose husband and brother-in-law were detained, said:

“Our homes were demolished without notice. My husband and his brothers were detained before the demolition. We are Indian citizens and have documents to prove it. Now, we are forced to live on the streets in this scorching heat with our children.”

Tajma added that four families, each with 6-7 members, are now homeless. Her brother-in-law’s wife is pregnant, expecting to deliver any day, and they are without shelter or medical aid.

Another detainee, Munir Sheikh, brother-in-law of Tajma, a metal roof contractor, remains in SOG custody despite providing his legal documentation. His family claims that he has been unlawfully held for over three days.

Beena Jadhav, founder of Rahethan Adhikar Manch, an organisation that fights for  housing and human rights, has been actively supporting the displaced residents.

“We have verified that many of these families are not Bangladeshi. In fact, some have lived in Siyasat Nagar near Chandola Lake for over 80 years. Many huts were documented during the 2011 hut census, yet no alternative accommodation was ever provided,” said Jadhav.

She added that authorities failed to follow due legal process, including issuing notices or giving residents time to evacuate.

“Even when legal documents of the detainee being legal citizens were presented, the police confiscated them and continued to detain people,” she alleged.

On Tuesday, 19 families filed a petition in the Gujarat High Court, seeking a stay on the demolition and permission to retrieve belongings from their huts. However, the High Court denied the stay, advising them to file for rehabilitation instead.

Jadhav confirmed that 19 petitioners are now seeking rehabilitation not just for themselves but on behalf of nearly 1,000 others, all of whom claim Indian citizenship.

She is currently drafting a formal appeal to the AMC (Amdavad Municipal Corporation) and the state government, urging them to set up temporary shelters.

“Ahmedabad is under an alert for heat, and yet, children and families are living under the open sky with no access to drinking water,” she said.

“While officials are given tents and facilities during visits, the locals – especially children – are suffering immensely in this scorching heat.”

Jadhav concluded by saying that if authorities fail to act, her organisation will again approach the courts to demand justice and humanitarian support for the displaced.