Aravalli encroachment: Faridabad activist arrested for ‘instigating crowd’

The Faridabad police on Tuesday afternoon arrested an activist from Khori village for allegedly instigating protesters and booked 150 residents for gathering in violation of prohibitory orders. Residents of Khori have been protesting since the last week, after the Supreme Court — holding that there cannot be a compromise or concession on forest land — ordered the demolition of houses encroaching on the Aravalli forest area in Faridabad district.

The Faridabad police on Tuesday afternoon arrested an activist from Khori village for allegedly instigating protesters and booked 150 residents for gathering in violation of prohibitory orders.

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A student activist who visited Khori village with the activist on Tuesday, requesting anonymity, said, “We had learnt from the villagers that electricity and water supply to the area had been disconnected for the past two days. We visited the place today (Tuesday) to see what the condition was and if people needed any help. When we were leaving the village, police officials stopped our vehicle and arrested Nirmal Gorana.”

Gorana, the general secretary of Bandhua Mukti Morcha, had been working with the residents of Khori village to seek rehabilitation from the district administration, as their houses on Aravalli land are to be demolished soon.

Residents of Khori have been protesting since the last week, after the Supreme Court — holding that there cannot be a compromise or concession on forest land — ordered the demolition of houses encroaching on the Aravalli forest area in Faridabad district.

Anshu Singla, the deputy commissioner of police (NIT), said that Gorana was violating the Covid-19 protocols by organising gatherings and was instigating them to violate the Supreme Court order. “He was trying to disturb the peace of the city by violating all guidelines and was violating Section 144 (of the CrPC) imposed in the area,” he said.

Singla said they received information that nearly 150 protesters had gathered in the village and were raising slogans against the district administration. “They were planning to pelt police parties deployed in the area with stones. The protesters and social activists had set up tents and were using microphones to instigate dwellers,” he said.

A case was registered against more than 150 people on Tuesday and one person was arrested. Other identified suspects allegedly fled the spot, but their names have been mentioned in the FIR, the police said.

On Monday, the Faridabad district magistrate released an order prohibiting gathering of five or more persons “within a radius of 200 meters of village Khori” fearing heavy protest by occupants and the possibility of unrest.

The order stated, “...prohibit the gathering of five or more persons, the carrying of weapon of offence like firearms, swords, gandasa, lathis, barchas, kulahris, knives, and other weapons within 200 meters of encroachment area in village Khori... till completion of work.”

Residents, however, alleged that police officials pelted stones at Gorana’s vehicle while he was leaving the village and arrested him.

“We already did not have water supply in this area and used to manage with tankers, but now, the administration has stopped their entry. The electricity supply has also been disconnected for three days. Nirmal Gorana and his team were just learning about the situation, and he was arrested while leaving. The police pelted stones to stop his vehicle,” said a resident.

In a joint statement, four social organisations, Basti Suraksha Manch, Working Peoples’ Charter, Bandhua Mukti Morcha and National Alliance of People’s Movements, said, “The police is patrolling every street and every intersection in Khori village. They are beating people as soon as they exit their houses. Many people have begun shifting their household items and the police are attacking them too. Despite a meeting between district officials wherein Khori residents were granted three additional days, the ground reality is that there are hordes of police in the village, terrorizing the residents and arresting people arbitrarily. Section 144 is still imposed in the area and there is no electricity or water.”

Police said teams are patrolling in the area to maintain the law and order situation but refuted allegations that they were stopping people who were trying to move out of the area. “Neither are we stopping anyone nor are we beating or troubling any resident. We are only keeping a close watch on the activities taking place in the area and to ensure people are safe and secure,” said Singla.