In a sweeping demolition operation by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, more than 7,000 Muslim homes have been targeted, displacing thousands of people and leaving them without shelter.
The drive, launched on Tuesday near Chandola Talab, covered an area exceeding 250k square kilometres.
On 29 April, the Gujarat High Court upheld the state authorities’ decision, noting that the water body lies on government land and that the structures were deemed illegal.
A day earlier, over 4,000 shanties in Siyasatnagar and Bengali Vaas were torn down, rendering thousands of Muslims homeless.
Most of the affected families, who work as labourers, ragpickers, or migrants from Bengal and Rajasthan, are now struggling to secure alternative accommodation, as rent and deposit demands have soared beyond their means.
The demolition followed the Pahalgam attack, with authorities citing “national security” concerns and alleging that the area was occupied by Bangladeshi infiltrators.
In the aftermath of the attack, over 6,500 individuals — mostly Muslims — were detained for verification of their citizenship status. Within the same week, more than a thousand were arrested as alleged undocumented immigrants.
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The detainees included women and children. After two to three days, around 850 of them were released upon being confirmed as Indian citizens.
“To cover up its failures, the administration first demolished around 2,000 houses, and now the process of razing another 6,500 is underway. This is a deliberate attempt to harass Muslims by making them homeless,” said Nafees, convenor of the Gujarat-based Minority Coordination Committee, as reported by Maktoob.
Thousands of families now find themselves stranded, with women and children especially vulnerable to threats against their safety and livelihoods.
Residents have expressed their anger and despair over the government’s actions and the portrayal of them as illegal Bangladeshi immigrants. Many insist they were born in the area and have lived there for decades. They also possess valid documentation.
“Why would we go to Bangladesh when we’re not Bangladeshi? I was born here and have lived here all my life,” said one resident in response to the claim.
The Gujarat-based Minority Welfare Committee condemned the demolition as “inhumane” and called for immediate rehabilitation efforts.
Several Muslim organisations have criticised the government’s bulldozer-led approach, calling it brutal and indifferent to the plight of thousands left in the scorching heat without shelter.
They reiterated that the affected residents are Indian citizens with valid identification, including Aadhaar cards (Indentity Card) and other official documents.
