News Desk
BENGALURU: Hundreds of Muslim families have been left homeless in the Indian city of Bengaluru after the Karnataka government demolished more than 200 houses in a pre-dawn operation, forcing residents to spend nights on the streets amid unusually cold weather.
The demolition drive was carried out early on 22 December in Fakir Colony and Aroosim Layout in Kogilu village, according to local media reports. The operation began around 4am and resulted in the displacement of nearly 400 families, many of them migrant workers.
Officials said the action was conducted by Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited and was accompanied by heavy machinery and a large police presence. The state government has defended the demolitions, claiming the houses were illegally constructed on government land near a lake and adjacent to an Urdu government school.
However, residents have strongly contested the government’s account, saying they were given no prior notice and were forcibly evicted by police. Many families said they were unable to retrieve their belongings before their homes were razed.
The demolitions have taken place during a spell of severe cold in Bengaluru, with displaced families now sleeping on roadsides or in makeshift shelters. Images and videos shared by local media showed women, children and elderly residents huddled in the open, wrapped in thin blankets to protect themselves from the cold.
Several residents told reporters that they had lived in the area for more than two decades and possessed official documents such as Aadhaar cards and voter identity cards, which they say demonstrate long-term residence.
