The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) began its anti-encroachment drive on Tuesday, April 29, by demolishing alleged illegal settlements near Chandola Lake in Gujarat's Ahmedabad. According to the media reports, the land was allegedly encroached by illegal Bangladeshis. The massive demolition drive has been launched jointly by the AMC and the state police. As many as 80 JCB machines and 60 dumper trucks have been deployed. The demolition will take under the guidance of seven zones estate officers from all seven zones of Ahmedabad.
Ahead of the demolition, the power connection in the area was disconnected. “Illegal Bangladeshi nationals are residing here and have built huts, as found by the Municipal Corporation. The Corporation is removing them, and the police are present to ensure that law and order is not disturbed,” Joint Police Commissioner (Crime) Sharad Singhal told the news agency IANS.
"AMC conducted a survey in which it was found that illegal construction was done. A demolition drive is underway. A total of 50 JCBs are working here, and around 2,000 police personnel are deployed here," Sharad Singhal stated further.
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Days before the demolition, Ahmedabad City Police raided homes at 3 am in the night and around 890 people, including 214 minors, were detained from the area in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack last week, reported The Indian Express. Out of 890, 300 detainees were released on Monday after the authorities confirmed their Indian identity.
The police said on Monday evening that out of 890 detainees, 143 confirmed illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, with 110 allegedly in possession of forged Indian identity documents.