NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF PEOPLE'S MOVEMENTS - Medha Patkar, 20 others arrested at Golibar, Mumbai

By Dilip -
Action Alert and Update on Golibar Arrests

Condemn Violence against Women
on the Eve of International Women’s Day
Medha Patkar and 20 others arrested at Golibar, Mumbai

Demand Immediate Release of Detainees:
Halt to Demolitions and Inquiry into Illegalities and Corruption
Seek action against police and Shivalik Builders 

Mumbai: In a series of illegal actions against the urban poor in Mumbai, the city police today came down heavily on Medha Patkar and a group of people resisitng the illegal evitions at Golibar, Khar (East). Other active local residents including Prerna Gaikwad, Ajit and 20 men and women have also been arrested today afternoon. Those protesting have been beaten up very badly by the police and goons on behalf of Shivalik Builders, in the presence of MHADA engineers and officials. The latest information is that at least ten houses have been demolished at Golibar (Khar East). A posse of police vehilces and JCB machines are still at the place and the demolition drive is still on.

The bulldozers at Golibar, a 50 year old slum are once again out to demolish and evict the slum dwellers who have been fighting the corruption and land grab by Shivalik Ventures in which the 2G Spectrum scam ridden Unitech has a stake. In the past the slum dwellers have repeatedly opposed and exposed the illegal acts of the private developers who are all out to grab the land. It was only after the expose that the Chief Minister of Maharashtra scrapped the two 3K projects.

Even now, as usual, no notice has been served on the people before the demolitions. The Mumbai High Court had directed that the residents must be reloacted at good transit camps that are in a completely livable condition and also directed that indiviidual agreements with the residents must be registered. However, without follwing this directive of the High Court, the demolitions are continuing in a totrally illegal maner. It is also significant to note that as recently as on 18th January, the CEO of the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA), Mr. Nirmal Deshmuk ordered a halt to the demolitions, but the same has started once again, with MHADA’s intervention.

It is shameful that instead of initiating action against the illegal builder-encroacher ‘Shivalik’, the administration continues to demolish and destroy hundreds of the dwellings of hundreds of hard-earned poor, along with their properties.  Thousands of basti dwellers across Mumbai under the banner of Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan are united with the detainees and aggrieved and have been raising slogans of 'Buildershahi band karo"; 'Gareebon ka shram kitna, haq kitna, hisaab karo, hisaab do'.

We all request you to kindly call the Chief Minister, Maharashtra-Office and request them to stop the forcible eviction of slum dwellers.

Demand:
·        Immediate release of all the detainees
·        Immediate suspension, disciplinary and criminal action against all police officials and personnel involved in the demolition drive and force on the people.
·        Legal action against Shivalik Builders for all the illegalities and encroachment committed by it.

A string of protest calls from across the nation are pouring in at the Nirmal Nagar Police Station (26471306 / 26470931) and to SPI Bagade (9821600134) for immediate release of the detainees.

Do also call the Chief Minister, Maharashtra at 022- 22025151 and 022- 22025222.
Fax the CM @ 022-22817068

In Solidarity,

Sumit Wajale           Madhuri Variyath           Meera               Seela      
9892727063              09820619174          09179148973             09212587159

===============================================
National Alliance of People’s MovementsNational Office : 6/6, Jangpura B, Mathura Road, New Delhi 110014
Phone : 011 26241167 / 24354737 Mobile : 09818905316
Web : www.napm-india.org
Twitter : @napmindia
Condemn Violence against Women
on the Eve of International Women’s Day

The atrocity of demolition, arrests and molestation of women at Golibar today afternoon, on the eve of the International Women’s Day is completely illegal and a blot on our democracy. Even as Medha Patkar and 20 others remain detained at the Safar Police Station, without being informed of the charges against them, demolition continues in various bastis of Mumbai including Golibar, Ambedkar Nagar, Bangal Basti etc.
The arrests at Golibar earlier in the day was executed with utmost cruelty, with women being pulled by their hair and molested by manhandling their sarees.
Do write to / fax the Chief Minister, the Police Commissioner and the State and National Commission for Women.

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