A Story of Eviction
On 5th April 1976, the Supreme Court ordered that the Janata Colony residents should be provided with more facilities till 5th May 1976, and then shifted from the place. The State Government and the BMC were contacted in the light of the Supreme Court judgement, but they paid no heed and stuck to their original programme. On 13th May 1976, the SRP and the civil police surrounded Janata Colony. An appeal was made in the High Court because the Government and the BMC did not pay attention to the Supreme court order. But the High Court neither dismissed the appeal nor allowed it. It merely kept it in abeyance. On 17th May 1976, the houses were demolished post a lathi charge by the police. The forcible shifting to the Cheeta Colony began in the trucks provided by the BMC. The operation was complete by 10th June. Every family was allotted sites on the basis of leave and license. Whereas at Janata Colony there was no leave and license system. In Cheeta Camp, the rent was fixed at Rs.20, whereas at Janata Colony it was Rs.3.25 On 17th May 1976, the Cheeta Camp dwellers in a big rally at Janata Colony protested at the inhuman treatment by the BMC officials. Some people were arrested and cases filed against them. The poeple who were shifted to Cheet Camp with their luggage and wares on 17th May were not allowed to build their houses. They were asked to wait until the final meeting of the BMC was over. On 1st June, there was a heavy downpour which continued for many days, and swept away the belongings and building materials of the evictees. One man named Abdul Hameed committed suicide out of sheer hopelessness and frustration. He was unemployed and had no money to pay the BMC. After his death, his widow was alotted a plot of 10 x 10 ft.
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