Illegal dwellings razed in anti-encroachment drives

The Delhi Development Authority on Monday carried out demolition drives in northwest Delhi’s Ashok Vihar and north Delhi’s Wazirpur to clear encroachments on government land and near railway tracks. The operations were conducted under heavy security, officials said.

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A Special Task Force (STF) team, accompanied by excavators and over 250 police personnel, reached the Jailorwala Bagh area of Ashok Vihar in the morning to begin demolishing structures identified as illegal. Officials confirmed that more than 200 homes built on government land were marked for demolition.

“About 250 police officers have been deployed at the site to maintain law and order,” DCP (Northwest) Bhisham Singh said, adding that the drive was proceeding smoothly.

Simultaneously, another demolition operation was carried out near a railway line in Wazirpur to remove unauthorised structures that posed safety hazards. Two companies of paramilitary forces, along with Delhi Police personnel, were stationed at the site to ensure peace.

This marks the second such drive in the area this month. On June 2, a similar operation was conducted, after which Chief Minister Rekha Gupta defended the action, saying, “If a railway line is encroached and there is an accident, who will be responsible?”

In recent weeks, similar anti-encroachment efforts have taken place in other parts of the city, including Bhoomiheen Camp and Madrasi Camp in southeast Delhi.

Officials said the demolitions are part of a broader campaign to reclaim public land and reduce safety risks from unregulated settlements.

While the government maintains the drives are necessary for public safety and urban planning, they have sparked concern among residents and rights groups over displacement and the lack of rehabilitation measures.