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Bengaluru:
In yet another demolition drive raising serious questions about legality, due process and state accountability, the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) on Thursday demolished around 22 structures in the Thanisandra area of north Bengaluru without serving any prior notice to residents.
Local residents said the demolitions were carried out abruptly in the early hours of the morning, leaving entire families displaced overnight. Significantly, BDA officials later admitted that the demolitions were carried out without issuing notices to those affected.
The action comes just days after the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) faced widespread criticism over its Kogilu demolition drive, in which hundreds of houses belonging to poor families, predominantly Muslims, were arbitrarily razed, triggering outrage over the alleged targeting of marginalised communities.
According to the BDA, houses, garages and godowns spread across nearly two acres were demolished and the land—estimated to be worth around ₹80 crore—was reclaimed. Officials claimed the land had been notified for the Arkavathy Layout project in 2004. They had earlier stated that residents were informed about a court order and the impending demolition.
Residents, however, strongly disputed this claim.
They said BDA officials, accompanied by police personnel and four earthmovers, arrived at around 7 a.m., knocked on doors and ordered occupants to vacate immediately, stating that demolition orders had already been issued, according to The Hindu. Residents said no written notice was ever served.
Many of those affected said they had been living in the area for nearly two decades and possessed valid documents, including e-khata certificates, electricity connections and property papers.
“We have been living here for almost 20 years. We have an e-khata, electricity connection and all property documents. They threw away our belongings and now we don’t even have a place to sleep,” Deccan Herald quoted one resident as saying.
For many families, the demolition has resulted in immediate homelessness.
“Now, with nowhere to go, I am forced to stay on the streets,” said Asiya, 25, who also said she has kidney-related health issues and had been resting for several months, The Hindu reported.
The demolitions in Saraipalya and Thanisandra have also drawn sharp reactions online.
“Early morning demolitions in Saraipalya, North Bengaluru. The demolition drive carried out by the BDA has left residents devastated. Families woke up to JCBs, not notices. Locals say no prior notice was served. Homes were torn down at dawn, tenants were suddenly displaced, and household belongings were thrown out onto the streets. Children were left without food or even milk, families left scrambling with nowhere to go,” posted Mohammed Zubair, co-founder of AltNews, who is based in Bengaluru.
Sharing images and videos from the site, he further asked: “Is this what lawful eviction looks like? Even if action was required, shouldn’t the government have handled it with basic humanity and empathy instead of turning people’s lives upside down overnight? Governance without compassion is unacceptable!”
Meanwhile, BDA Commissioner P. Manivannan admitted that there had been a prima facie lapse by the BDA’s Special Task Force (STF), as there was no record to show that residents had been alerted through notices.
“We verify documents and initiate demolition works. Even this land belongs to the BDA as per our records, but the demolition was carried out without serving notice,” he said, according to The Hindu.
Manivannan said the BDA would make arrangements for rehabilitation and bear the associated costs. He also announced that a probe has been ordered into the lapses.
Retired Justice Niyaz Ahmed has been appointed to investigate the matter and submit a report within 30 days.