Shakur Basti demolition: Plea in HC for SIT probe into death of minor

New Delhi: A fresh plea was on Tuesday filed in the Delhi High Court in connection with the Shakur Basti demolition incident seeking constitution of Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the death of a toddler during the razing of a slum cluster on December 12.

An advocate in his petition before a bench of Justices BD Ahmed and Sanjeev Sachdeva said the matter is urgent as the displaced residents of Shakur Basti here need to be allocated permanent space immediately apart from the temporary rehabilitation programme being carried out by the concerned authorities.

Petitioner advocate Prem Pal Singh said the plea filed yesterday by a Congress leader had only sought rehabilitation of the people, who were rendered homeless in biting cold. He prayed for institution of a SIT probe into the incident and compensation to be paid to them as deemed appropriate by the court.

The court ordered the matter to be listed for tomorrow.

The petitioner said like the high court had asked Railway General Manager, Delhi Chief Secretary, Delhi government and Delhi Police Commissioner to file affidavits as to what made them evict the slum dwellers in such an inhumane manner, it should also call for a response from Central Reserve Police Force and Railway Police, which gave protection for the exercise.

An anti-encroachment demolition drive by the Railways on December 12 at Shakur Basti left a six-month-old child dead and thousands of people homeless on the coldest night of the season.

The court had on a plea by Congress leader Ajay Maken yesterday sought a response with regard to the steps taken by various government authorities for making alternative arrangements for those who have been evicted.

Stepping into the demolition row, the high court had came down heavily on the Railway Ministry and police for the drive and directed the authorities to immediately rehabilitate over 5,000 people rendered homeless.

A bench of Justices S Muralidhar and Vibhu Bakhru had termed it a "pathetic act" as "peoples' lives are involved and we cannot be so casual".

Maken, has sought in his plea that the Railway Ministry and Delhi police be restrained from carrying out any further eviction or harassment of people living in Shakur Basti until appropriate rehabilitation has been provided.