Bulldozers: On Wednesday, riot-hit Jahangirpuri was a scene of devastation, misery, and helplessness after the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) launched an “anti-encroachment” sweep that left the area’s stores in ruins and its residents, largely Muslims, without a source of income. The area’s famed Jama Masjid gate and boundary walls were also demolished during the drive, in addition to the stores.
Shopkeepers were left picking up whatever remained in the aftermath of the destruction as the bulldozers moved towards the area’s C-Block, where most of the Muslim people live, and began razing the improvised kiosks and businesses lining the road outside Kushal Cinema. While the roofs and outer walls of some of the stores were partially destroyed, the majority of the temporary constructions were entirely destroyed.
Shopkeepers, the majority of whom live in the vicinity, claimed that they had not received any prior notice from the local authority and that no one had raised a problem throughout the years that the stores had been open, “but only demolished them after the communal unrest.”
Bulldozers were going to destroy my shop
“I was inside my shop when suddenly came to know that bulldozers were going to destroy my shop,” Hussain, 40, told The Hindu, standing alongside his now-destroyed second-hand fabric shop.
I wasn’t even given advance notice, so I couldn’t have kept all of my materials separate. I’ve lost around $15,000 in total… “How am I going to run my family now?”
Mr. Hussain, who is from Haldia in West Bengal, said he has been running the shop for more than 20 years and earns approximately $500 on a good day. “I have two tiny children to look after, as well as a wife… He bemoaned, “I begged them not to destroy my lone source of income, but they didn’t listen to my cries.”
Ukhatsun stated that her husband, Mustafa, had been running the roadside shop for the previous 20 years and could not imagine maintaining the family without it, as she stood motionless outside her house window, looking at his wrecked mobile accessory shop. “They didn’t even bother to inform us about the demolition campaign in advance… I’m not sure how we’ll rebuild the shop. Ms. Ukhatsun explained, “It was our only source of revenue.”
Shaira, the proprietor of a mobile accessories shop, was also upset since her store was among those destroyed during the drive. “I won’t be able to rebuild the shop any longer… I’m going to start begging because it appears to be my only option. Where had the authorities been all this time? Have they just awoken? Why have the majority of Muslim businesses been demolished?” Ms. Shaira had inquired.
Similarly, Akbar, 38, estimated the damage to his shop at around $17,000, an amount he will not be able to recover. “I’ve been running this shop since 2006 and used to make a respectable living…then a bulldozer came along and razed it to the ground.” “What am I supposed to do now?” says the narrator. Mr. Akbar, from Medinipur in West Bengal, inquired.
“Here, there has always been a sense of collective cohesion.” Following the clash, things became tense, with enhanced security and closed shops. Imran Khan, whose cafe was damaged, stated, “This has further shattered the backs of businesses.”
Standing in front of his demolished juice shop, Ganesh Gupta said that he has all the documentation proving that his business was not an intrusion and that it was a lawful property. “I will file a lawsuit to stop the illegal demolition of my shop…entirely it’s unjustifiable,” he stated.
While the demolition campaign has been halted by the Supreme Court, most residents of C-Block are concerned that the bulldozers would return and that “today they will come for our houses.”
Najma, 30, stood outside the barred gates of her bylane, where most inhabitants were limited during the demolition operation, saying she had packed most of her stuff because she was afraid the authorities would now demolish her home. “A civic body officer came to our house and told us that we needed to clear our items because they were going to demolish it… Ms. Najma, whose sister’s shop was also destroyed in the drive, said, “I need to be prepared for the worst.”
Bulldozers went to Mosque as well
“We don’t mind if they damage our homes, but why did they break the gates of our masjid (mosque)?” It’s a place of worship for us. “No one has given them the authority to do it,” she asserted.
Another resident, Murshid Bibi, claimed to have all of the necessary documentation to verify that she is a legitimate resident of the region. “You can’t get us out of here by labeling us infiltrators… Ms. Bibi stated, “I have been here for nearly two decades and have legal documents to establish my identification.”