Bhopal Administration Launches Eviction Drive at 70-Year-Old Mans Bhawan Slum

Tribal families in the Mans Bhawan jhuggi basti near Polytechnic Chowraha face displacement as authorities begin demolition early Saturday, with heavy police deployment and water cannons on standby.

Authorities in the Madhya Pradesh capital launched a major anti-encroachment operation on Saturday morning, targeting a decades-old slum settlement behind Mans Bhawan near Polytechnic Chowraha. The drive, which began around 6 AM, aims to clear the jhuggies where tribal families have lived for nearly 70 years.

Police barricaded the entire area, restricting movement and deploying significant force to maintain order. Water cannons were positioned as a precautionary measure amid anticipated resistance. Officials said 95 personnel, including officers and staff, have been assigned to the operation.

Early Morning Action and Security Measures

Administration teams entered the basti shortly after dawn. Residents, who had locked their homes overnight and left the premises, had handed over responsibility for their belongings to the police. Teams later brought several residents back to the site to unlock houses in the presence of officials so that evacuation and demolition could proceed smoothly.

Strict frisking was enforced, with mobile phones and other recording devices barred from the inner areas. All approach roads to the slum were sealed with heavy barricading, causing inconvenience to local commuters, including those heading to Bal Bhawan. Police personnel stood guard at every entry point, turning away outsiders, including media crews in some cases.

Background of the Settlement

The Mans Bhawan slum houses around 27 families, primarily Adivasi residents who have called the area home for seven decades. Under the rehabilitation plan, these families are to be shifted to alternative sites at Bhauri, Kalkheda, and Malikhedi. Officials maintained that the move follows due process for clearing public land.

Political Protests and Opposition Reaction

The operation triggered immediate protests from Congress leaders. Former minister PC Sharma and Leader of Opposition Shabista Zaki, among others, sat on a dharna late Friday night in opposition to the eviction. Ward 24 Congress president Shoaib Khan criticised the timing and planning, stating that discussions had taken place with the administration the previous evening.

“These are Adivasi homes with belongings inside. Action without proper arrangements is not right,” Khan said, urging authorities to halt the drive. One young protester climbed a tower in demonstration but was persuaded by police to come down safely.

Local reports indicated that some residents had written messages outside their homes expressing anguish over the displacement.

On-Ground Developments

As the morning progressed, teams began removing household items from the jhuggies. Bhaskar reporters on the spot described a tense yet controlled atmosphere, with police maintaining a tight cordon. The focus remained on orderly evacuation and documentation before any structural demolition.

Residents expressed concern over the suddenness of the action despite the long history of the settlement. Many had spent the night elsewhere after locking up, returning only when fetched by police.

Public Impact and Traffic Disruptions

The barricading severely affected normal life in the busy Polytechnic Chowraha area. Commuters and schoolchildren faced detours and delays, highlighting the challenges of carrying out such operations in a densely populated urban zone close to key landmarks like the Chief Minister’s residence route.

Authorities emphasised that the drive is part of broader efforts to remove encroachments and develop public spaces, though the human element of relocating long-term residents has drawn political and community attention.

The situation remains fluid as the eviction and rehabilitation process continues through the day. Further updates are expected as more families are shifted and the site is cleared. Officials have appealed for cooperation to ensure the process is completed without untoward incidents.