New Delhi: A child died in a slum area of west Delhi yesterday allegedly while 500 shanties were being pulled down by the Railway Police during an anti-encroachment drive.
The residents of the slum in West Delhi’s Shakur Basti said that the little girl died after a piece of furniture fell over her.
According to then the shanties were bulldozed without any warning or notice, leaving hundreds of them exposed to biting cold.
The Railways has denied the charges. In a statement, it said a number of notices were issued asking residents to vacate the land where a new passenger terminal is proposed to be constructed. The statement says the girl died before the demolition drive began.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal visited the area late last night. Condemning the incident, he said “This is highly condemnable. God will not forgive them. They (officers involved) should be booked for murder.” He also said his government has suspended
three senior officials for failing to provide relief material to the residents.
Later, he tweeted: “Coming back from the demolition site. Heart rending scenes. How cud our own countrymen do this to our poorest fellow countrymen (sic).”
In another post, he questioned: “There are court orders to raze properties of some rich n politicians in Delhi. Those orders r never implemented (sic).”
