NEW DELHI--A baby died in Shakur Basti area in West Delhi where a demolition drive was carried out by railways, triggering an angry reaction from Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal who slammed the railways and suspended three officials for “failing to arrange” food for those evicted. While railways said the child died at around 10 am, two hours before the demolition drive began to clear several “fresh encroachments”, police said prima facie the baby died after a heap of clothes fell on the six-month-old.
“When family members were arranging clothes, a heap of garments fell over the child which they did not notice. The child could not remove the pile and got smothered under it. No case has been registered as of now,” Jt CP (south west) Dependra Pathak.
A railway statement said, “The encroachment removal was started at 11.50 hrs under police protection and completed by evening. It had nothing to do with removal of encroachments which started at around 1200 hours.”
Kejriwal visited the site, in west Delhi, late last night and ordered the suspension of two Sub Divisional Magistrates and one senior official for “failing to arrange” food and shelter for those who were evicted.
According to northern railway officials, “There is a need for constructing additional platforms, repairing yard, washing line, maintenance facility and office space for store and engineering division. So that, more long distance and local trains can be handled at the Shakur Basti station.”
However, the Chief Minister slammed the railways for undertaking the demolition drive when temperature saw a sharp drop. He also ordered officials to immediately provide blankets and food to those who were rendered homeless following the drive.
“Railways have demolished 500 shanties in this extreme cold. One child has died. God will never forgive them. Had instructed the local SDM to arrange for food and shelter. They did not arrange the same, so have suspended them,” Kejriwal said in a series of tweets. The Chief Minister said that he had spoken to Union Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu, who was not “aware of this operation. He was also shocked.”
Have nothing to do with child’s death: Railways
Railways said that the death of a child in Shakurbasti had nothing do with its encroachment drive in the slum cluster for which adequate notices were given to the locals. “A number of notices were issued to encroachers to vacate railway land during the last nine months.Notice to vacate before 30 September, 2015 was given but they did not vacate,” railways said in a statement.
Another notice was given for vacating the land yesterday, it said. The encroachment removal started at 11.50 hrs under police protection and was completed by the evening.
“When police RPF and railway officials gathered at the site it was noticed that the death of a child had occurred in one of the jhuggies at around 10 AM,” it said, adding that, “Railways had nothing to do with the removal of encroachments which started at around 1200 hours”. After assessing the situation Ishwar Singh, SHO Punjabi Bagh had given notice for clearance at 11.50 hrs.
“The joint note of police RPF and railway officials at site indicate that removal was done peacefully. The removal was in the knowledge of DUSIB officials,” the statement said.
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इतनी सर्दी में आज रेल्वे वालों ने 500 झुग्गियाँ तोड़ दी। एक बच्चे की मौत हो गए। भगवान उन्हें कभी माफ़ नहीं करेगा।
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 12, 2015“When family members were arranging clothes, a heap of garments fell over the child which they did not notice. The child could not remove the pile and got smothered under it. No case has been registered as of now,” Jt CP (south west) Dependra Pathak.
A railway statement said, “The encroachment removal was started at 11.50 hrs under police protection and completed by evening. It had nothing to do with removal of encroachments which started at around 1200 hours.”
Kejriwal visited the site, in west Delhi, late last night and ordered the suspension of two Sub Divisional Magistrates and one senior official for “failing to arrange” food and shelter for those who were evicted.
According to northern railway officials, “There is a need for constructing additional platforms, repairing yard, washing line, maintenance facility and office space for store and engineering division. So that, more long distance and local trains can be handled at the Shakur Basti station.”
However, the Chief Minister slammed the railways for undertaking the demolition drive when temperature saw a sharp drop. He also ordered officials to immediately provide blankets and food to those who were rendered homeless following the drive.
“Railways have demolished 500 shanties in this extreme cold. One child has died. God will never forgive them. Had instructed the local SDM to arrange for food and shelter. They did not arrange the same, so have suspended them,” Kejriwal said in a series of tweets. The Chief Minister said that he had spoken to Union Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu, who was not “aware of this operation. He was also shocked.”
Spoke to Railway minister Sh Suresh Prabhu also just now. He said he was not aware of this operation. He was also shocked.
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 12, 2015Coming back from the demolition site. Heart rending scenes. How cud our own countrymen do this to our poorest fellow countrymen(1/2)
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 12, 2015Suspended 2 SDMs n one SE for not providing relief. Ordered officers to provide blankets now n food from morn(2/2)
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 12, 2015Have nothing to do with child’s death: Railways
Railways said that the death of a child in Shakurbasti had nothing do with its encroachment drive in the slum cluster for which adequate notices were given to the locals. “A number of notices were issued to encroachers to vacate railway land during the last nine months.Notice to vacate before 30 September, 2015 was given but they did not vacate,” railways said in a statement.
Another notice was given for vacating the land yesterday, it said. The encroachment removal started at 11.50 hrs under police protection and was completed by the evening.
“When police RPF and railway officials gathered at the site it was noticed that the death of a child had occurred in one of the jhuggies at around 10 AM,” it said, adding that, “Railways had nothing to do with the removal of encroachments which started at around 1200 hours”. After assessing the situation Ishwar Singh, SHO Punjabi Bagh had given notice for clearance at 11.50 hrs.
“The joint note of police RPF and railway officials at site indicate that removal was done peacefully. The removal was in the knowledge of DUSIB officials,” the statement said.
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