Fwd: [initiative-india] Ambedkar Nagar résidents attacked by corrupt builders

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: NAPM India <napmindia@napm-india.org>
Date: Sun, Jul 17, 2011 at 3:32 PM
Subject: [initiative-india] Ambedkar Nagar résidents attacked by corrupt builders
To:

NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF PEOPLE'S MOVEMENTS
A Wing First Floor, Haji Habib Building, Naigaon Cross Road
Dadar (E), Mumbai-400 014 Ph. No-2415 0529 E-mail: napmindia@gmail.com
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For Immediate Release                                         17^th July, 2011

 

        Ambedkar Nagar residents attacked: A Week of Inaction

 

People challenge rising lawlessness and brutal Builder Raj in Mumbai

 

In yet another shocking example of the growing builder-led lawlessness in the slums of Mumbai, 3 women and 4 men of Ambedkar Nagar Basti, Mulund (East) were attacked by 11 goons of Samarth Spark Developers on 10^th July in the presence of the Builder's son, Mr. Ajay Devai and the Chief Promoter of SRA Society, Mr. Moreshwar Koli. The goons came late in the night and hit the men and women with logs of wood and metal weapons, leading to injuries. One of the injured, Mr. Sumit Mahadev Vike, a 22 year old youth has suffered 20 stitches, and has been undergoing treatment at Sion Hospital.  People have complained that the Builders' men ascribed casteist remarks and abuses against them, which in a serious punishable offence under the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. The women have also complained of sexual molestation by the goons.  Further to the attack, the builder's henchmen embarked on a looting spree and stole a Samsung mobile phone, valuables worth Rs. 40,000 and the golden martial chain of a woman worth Rs 45,000.

 

Subsequent to this incident, the victims submitted a detailed written complaint at the Mulund Police station, with copies to the Commissioner, SP and other officials, but to this day, no action, not even recording of evidences has taken place.  Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan and NAPM strongly condemn such repeated attacks on the urban poor and working class communities and the activists raising their issues. If the authorities do not initiate prompt action in such cases and instill the fear of law in the wrong-doers, the State will lose its moral right and legal basis to question people, if and when they are compelled to take law in their own hands to protect their lives and livelihoods, rights and resources.

 

This is not the first incident and the residents of Ambedkar Nagar have been facing the atrocities of the builders on earlier occasions as well. In 2009, seventeen year old Raju, son of Nirmal Devi Vishwas was kidnapped, alleged by the builder's men and his whereabouts are not known to this date. Just about a month ago, on the 2^nd June, about 70 houses in the same locality were razed to the earth at 11 a.m. in the morning without BMC and builders even following the due process of law. As usual, the demolition was accompanied by theft of people's hard earned belongings. 70 FIRs have been filed against this 'atrocity', but no action has been initiated on this incident as well to his date. As a punishment to the people's protests, a day later, the builder's and Society's men also attempted to burn alive three of the basti women, but fortunately could not succeeded in their vicious attempt.

 

Not only the fearlessness with which the land sharks commit such offences, but the audacity that they can get away with impunity and escape the arm of the law has become a serious cause of concern and also a reason for mobilization of thousands of urban poor in Mumbai against the loot and lawlessness of the builders. The people's struggle, which is growing from strength to strength in Mumbai shall only intensify with every such incident and not weaken.

Sandeep Yevale                     Medha Patkar          Simpreet Singh       Varsha Parchure

(09819307419)                    (09179148973)          (0999363065)

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National Alliance of People's Movements
National Office: Room No. 29-30, 1st floor, 'A' Wing, Haji Habib Bldg, Naigaon Cross Road, Dadar (E), Mumbai - 400 014;
Ph: 022-24150529

6/6, Jangpura B, Mathura Road, New Delhi 110014
Phone : 011 26241167 / 24354737 Mobile : 09818905316

E-mail: napmindia@gmail.com | napm@napm-india.org
Web : www.napm-india.org

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