Kolkata: Demolition began on Tuesday at the Shalimar rail slum area in Howrah, known locally as Nepali Basti, as railway authorities and police started the first phase of a major eviction drive outside Shalimar station.The operation was carried out by the South Eastern Railway with Howrah City Police, railway police, RAF personnel and workers from Howrah Municipal Corporation. Six bulldozers were used to pull down houses and shops in what officials called the largest railway slum in Howrah.Police said bombs were thrown during the drive. A Howrah City Police officer said more than 30 bombs and other weapons were recovered from several dwellings. He alleged that some residents of the slum were involved in crime around the Shalimar parking area and rail yard, including extortion, assaults, attacks on passengers and goods workers, wagon-breaking, smuggling, drug trade and prostitution.Police said searches were under way to find those involved in the bomb-throwing. Officials said public announcements and notices weremade for the past week asking encroachers to leave.Omprakash Charan, chief public relations officer of South Eastern Railway, said the drive started after “overcoming all obstacles” and could take several more days to finish. Officials said earlier attempts to clear the area failed because of strong resistance from residents, despite repeated notices.Railway officials said 182 hutments and shops were demolished so far. They said the structures were built illegally on railway land and some state govt land. According to officials, the area was occupied for five to six decades and residents were served four notices to leave. When they did not vacate after the deadline, the demolition was carried out.Residents said more than 2,000 people wereleft homeless. The removal of families without rehabilitation led to protests and tension in the area as the bulldozers moved in.BJP leader Omprakash Singh, the party’s Howrah district secretary and an advocate, said removing the settlement would improve safety in areas. DYFI leader Sumitra Adhikary opposed the drive, calling it illegal and inhumane without rehabilitation, and said the matter would be taken to court.
