http://www.vishvish.com/story/the-vijapur-demolition <p>At 4am, the police arrived and surrounded the village, bringing two bulldozers with them. Cutting the power and hence the lights, they roused the villagers and forced them to flee into their temple while they systematically demolished their houses for being illegally built.</p> <p>A few days later, sitting in an office at the Human Rights Commission in Mehsana, I suggested to the officer that demolishing peoples' houses without at least letting them know was pretty criminal. He countered with the perfectly reasonable suggestion that perhaps they had been notified, and it was really only their word against the local government. I accepted this, and offered that, even so, surely arriving at 4am, cutting the power and lights, and then beating men, women and children, and refusing people the opportunity to collect their belongings, was unacceptable. He conceded that I had a point, and quite possibly a very good case to be brought.</p> <p>The problem with the Human Rights Commission is that they are fairly toothless, and they can only offer recommendations to other government departments and point out problems, rather than enforcement, yet they are one of the few areas offering hope to the tribe at Vijapur. Between meetings with the district magistrate, the very agreeable Mr Ajay Badhoo, the human rights commission, the tribe and the neighbouring town, I concluded that not everyone was telling the truth, quite possibly because not everyone knew the truth.</p> <p>But roughly, here is the outline, in no particular order:</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;">The survey of the area with borders and land boundaries was out of date. <br />The tribals had been paying rent for many years. <br /> The neighbouring town and merchants did not like the tribals. <br />The order to demolish may have been based on incorrect boundaries.</p> <ul> </ul> <p>The idea that an entire village could be demolished on the basis of an incorrect and out of date survey is alarming, and asking the magistrate whether his own house would be treated in this way shows how power, enforcement and justice still work in India.</p> Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +0000 en-gb vishvish.com RSS generator 2.0 http://www.vishvish.com/photo/vijapur-demolition-463 Vijapur Demolition One bulldozer came from this direction at 4am. Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/vijapur-demolition-464 Vijapur Demolition This is where they live now - their house was at the edge of the compound and the first to be demolished. Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/vijapur-demolition-465 Vijapur Demolition All these people's belongings are underneath this rubble. Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/vijapur-demolition-466 Vijapur Demolition The bundle contains their salvaged possessions from under the rubble of their house. Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/vijapur-demolition-467 Vijapur Demolition A lady and her baby daughter have built a shelter where their house previously stood. Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/vijapur-demolition-468 Vijapur Demolition Her rear walls are standing as they are built against the walls of the village. Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/vijapur-demolition-469 Vijapur Demolition Bulldozers drove straight through at 4am. Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/vijapur-demolition-470 Vijapur Demolition The mandir - temple - was the only building left standing. Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/vijapur-demolition-471 Vijapur Demolition This 14-year old protested at the demolition by setting himself alight. Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/vijapur-demolition-472 Vijapur Demolition Rajnikant has scars from the beatings on the top of his foreheard and by his eye, and on his right arm. He's seven. Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/vijapur-demolition-473 Vijapur Demolition Injuries sustained trying to protect his house - seen in the background. Vish Vishvanath http://www.vishvish.com/photo/vijapur-demolition-474 Vijapur Demolition His pigeon boxes are safe in the temple window, but his other pigeons may or may not come back. Vish Vishvanath