Seven policemen and six protesters were injured on Wednesday after violence broke out during an anti-encroachment demolition drive at the Garib Nagar slum near Bandra railway station.
Police detained 10 people following clashes that erupted on the second day of the demolition operation being conducted by Western Railway under court orders.
Violence Erupts During Demolition of Illegal Structures
Authorities said the demolition work resumed peacefully around 8 am but tensions escalated at approximately 3 pm when officials moved to remove an allegedly illegal prayer structure near the Bandra (East) skywalk.
Officials also claimed that a private telecom tower had been installed illegally at the site.
According to police, a crowd began pelting stones, utensils and other objects at demolition teams, prompting law enforcement personnel to carry out a lathicharge to disperse the mob.
The demolition drive targets nearly 500 hutments spread across approximately 5,200 square metres of railway land estimated to be worth around Rs 600 crore.
Authorities said nearly 60 per cent of the clearance work had been completed by the end of the second day.
FIR Registered Against Protesters
Nirmal Nagar Police Station registered an FIR against those involved in the violence under charges related to unlawful assembly, rioting and assaulting government officials.
The injured individuals were taken to Bhabha Hospital and V N Desai Hospital for treatment.
Officials said one policeman and one protester remained admitted to hospital and were reported to be stable, while the remaining injured persons were discharged against medical advice.
A police officer from Nirmal Nagar station said protesters had also blocked traffic in the area before authorities cleared the roads.
Security Tightened Around Bandra Area
Following the unrest, police tightened security and sealed several roads surrounding Bandra station and Bandra Terminus.
The disturbances caused heavy traffic congestion in Bandra (East), with several commuters and railway passengers forced to walk with luggage after vehicles were diverted or stopped at barricades.
Additional commissioner of police Abhinav Deshmukh warned that strict legal action would be taken against those responsible for the violence.
Demolition Linked to Long-Running Legal Battle
Officials said proceedings under the Public Premises Act had begun before 2017, with eviction orders issued on November 27 that year.
The matter later reached both the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court.
According to authorities, the High Court, through an order dated April 29 this year and subsequently upheld in further proceedings and by the Supreme Court, permitted the removal of unauthorised encroachments while directing protection for eligible structures.
