Demolition drive in Delhi's Shakurbasti allegedly leaves a child dead, thousands homeless in chilling cold​

Picture for representation. Photo: PTI

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday suspended District Magistrate of Shakur Basti area following the reports about death of a minor child during an anti-encroachment drive by Railways. 

Kejriwal, while speaking to a TV news channel, told that he was not aware about this drive and he has ordered the suspension of the District Magistrate of the concerned area as he failed to provide relief to the slum-dwellers in the chilling cold. 

More than 500 slums were demolished in an anti-encroachment drive conducted by the Indian Railways in Shakur Basti on Saturday.

Slum residents created uproar after a child was found dead. They alleged that then child had died in the anti-encroachment drive.

Railway sources, however, have denied the allegations, saying that the death of the child occurred in one of the slums around 10 am and had nothing to do with the removal of encroachments.

The residents also insisted that their homes were demolished without any prior warning or notice.

According to the Railways, a number of notices were issued to encroachers to vacate its land during the last nine months, but the locals did not vacate. It is also said that a new passenger terminal is coming up at Shakur Basti and railway land is required for that.