Bengaluru’s Heartless Demolition Drive Leaves 150 Families Homeless
Residents allege brutality and lack of notice as BBMP, Railways raze houses at KG Halli
Bengaluru | November 2, 2025
In a shocking instance of administrative insensitivity, over 150 families were rendered homeless after civic and railway authorities jointly demolished houses near the Kadugondanahalli (KG Halli) Railway Gate in north Bengaluru on October 31. The large-scale eviction drive, reportedly carried out without due legal notice, left hundreds—including children and the elderly—sleeping on the roadside beside railway tracks.
A Pre-Dawn Operation Turns Violent
According to residents, the demolition began around 8 a.m. when nearly 400 police, Railway Protection Force (RPF), and BBMP officials arrived with bulldozers. “They had come the previous evening and assured us four days’ time to vacate. But by next morning, they brought JCBs and started demolishing while people were still inside,” said Meena, a resident who lost her home.
Witnesses allege that police forcibly evicted people, used lathis to disperse protesting residents, and threw out personal belongings. “They didn’t even allow us to take our utensils or clothes. Men, women, and even children were beaten,” claimed another resident.
At least six to seven people were injured and treated at the KG Halli Community Health Centre. Among them was 22-year-old Sneha, who fainted during the chaos after fasting for two days. “I saw my house crushed before my eyes,” she recounted tearfully.
Detention and Intimidation
Two men—Wilson (30) and Palani (31)—were detained at the Govindpura Police Station. Wilson alleged that police threatened to register false cases against them. “They made us sign a paper before letting us go,” he said. Residents expressed fear of further harassment if they continued to protest.
Decades-Old Settlements Erased
The affected families belong predominantly to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities and have lived in the area for four to five generations. Many are daily-wage labourers, domestic workers, or garment factory employees.
Residents pointed out that some homes were sanctioned by the BBMP in 2017, with work orders and documents to prove their legitimacy. Others said that a year ago, officials collected their signatures promising “compensation” — though no follow-up was made. “We trusted the government when they gave us land and funds. Now they say it belongs to the Railways,” lamented Saroja, a domestic worker.
A Humanitarian Crisis Born of Mismanagement
The demolition has exposed a glaring lack of coordination between government departments. While the Slum Board had reportedly allocated these sites and the BBMP provided up to ₹4 lakh per family for construction, the Railway Department has now claimed ownership of the land.
The conflicting claims have created a bureaucratic disaster with devastating consequences for around 600 individuals. With no rehabilitation plan, residents spent nights on open pavements, without access to sanitation or drinking water.
Civic activists condemned the action as “inhuman and illegal”, urging the government to hold the officials accountable. “No family should be made homeless overnight in a democratic state. The law mandates prior notice, consultation, and rehabilitation,” said a volunteer assisting the victims.
Calls for Accountability and Relief
Despite the seriousness of the incident, there has been minimal media coverage or official acknowledgment. Rights groups have demanded that the Karnataka government intervene and provide immediate shelter, compensation, and a clear resolution on land ownership.
“This is not just a demolition—it’s an erasure of dignity,” said a community leader. “We built our homes on land the government gave us. How can they now call us encroachers?”
The tragedy at Kadugondanahalli stands as a grim reminder of administrative negligence and policy failure, where the poor continue to pay the price for the state’s own contradictions.
