Mumbai: 10 named in FIR, several booked after violence during Garib Nagar demolition drive in Bandra

Ten persons have been named and several others were booked for allegedly pelting stones at police personnel and obstructing officials during an antiencroachment drive at Garib Nagar in Mumbairsquos Bandra East area where authorities were carrying out demolition of illegal structures including an unauthorised religious structure structureAccording to the FIR registered at Nirmal Nagar police station four police personnel sustained injuries after a mob gathered during the demolition operation and allegedly attacked police and railway officials with stones and other objects on Wednesday eveningThe FIR stated that notices regarding the demolition were issued on March 13 2026 by railway authorities to residents occupying structures between the South Foot Over Bridge and Level Crossing Gate No 18 near Bandra stationResident groups had challenged the action before the Bombay High Court through separate petitions However during a hearing on April 29 2026 the court reportedly allowed the removal of unauthorised structures while protecting eligible slum dwellersFollowing the court order railway authorities scheduled the demolition drive from May 19 to May 23100150 people were present during the violencePolice said the demolition resumed on May 20 after work could not be completed on the first dayAt around 430 pm a group of nearly 100 to 150 people allegedly gathered at the site and began shouting slogans against the operationOfficials said police personnel deployed at the location repeatedly appealed to the crowd through megaphones to disperse However the gathering allegedly became aggressive and started pelting stones at police personnel and security staffSome people allegedly threw cement blocks towards police officers and personnel deployed for security during the operationPolice said mild force was later used to disperse the crowd and bring the situation under controlDemolition drive following High Court directionsThe Western Railway had launched a largescale antiencroachment operation in the Garib Nagar slum cluster on Tuesday after directions from the Bombay High Court to clear illegal structures built on railway land adjacent to Bandra railway station Officials said the drive covers nearly 5200 square metres of encroached land and is being conducted over a fiveday periodWestern Railway Chief Public Relations Officer Vineet Abhishek said nearly 60 per cent of the illegal structures had been removed so far Authorities had also deployed a heavy police force to maintain law and order during the operationThe FIR stated that the railway administration had earlier identified several unauthorised structures along the railway boundary wall and issued notices before beginning demolition work Police personnel from Mumbai Police Railway Protection Force and Home Guards were deployed at the site to assist civic and railway authoritiesMob turns violent during operationAccording to police the situation escalated at around 430 pm on Wednesday when a crowd allegedly gathered near Gate No 18 in Garib Nagar and began protesting against the demolition action Officials claimed some members of the crowd started shouting slogans and attempted to obstruct the demolition teamsPolice said repeated announcements were made asking residents to disperse peacefully but a section of the crowd allegedly became aggressive and began throwing stones and other objects at officials present at the site During the violence three policemen suffered injuries including injuries to hands and fingers according to the complaint filed by a police constable attached to Nirmal Nagar police stationAuthorities said police later used mild force to disperse the crowd and detained several persons from the areaCharges filed against 10 accusedPolice have booked 10 accused under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to unlawful assembly rioting assault on public servants obstruction of government work and damage to public property Provisions of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act and the Maharashtra Police Act have also been invoked in the caseThe FIR names 10 persons most of them residents of Garib Nagar and nearby localities in Bandra East and Andheri Police said further investigation into the incident is underway and additional arrests may follow