On Saturday, March 11, the Dwarka administration ordered the demolition of a structures including mazars in Harshad village of Kalyanpur Tehsil in Gujarat. This comes after the Gujarat government ordered to clear of illegal encroachments posing threat to India’s maritime security.
During the demolition drive 7 Mazars, 50 commercial establishments, and around 210 residential buildings were demolished by the local administration amidst heavy police deployment.
देश की समुद्री सुरक्षा के लिए ख़तरा बन सकते है ऐसे अवैध निर्माण को ढहाने की सरकार की मुहिम लगातार जारी.
— Janak Dave (@dave_janak) March 11, 2023
देवभूमि द्वारका का गांधवी जो समुद्री किनारे है वहाँ
07 धार्मिक स्थल (मज़ारे),
50 कमर्शियल,
210 रिहायशी मकानों को ढहाया गया.@sanghaviharsh @IGP_RajkotRange @GujaratPolice pic.twitter.com/twu9XGvMOG
To avoid any untoward occurrence during the procedures, a convoy of police personnel was deployed, comprising the District Superintendent of Police, DySP, PI, PSI, and Constables. Nitesh Pandey, the district police chief, stated that around 800 police officers were stationed there.
Speaking to the media, Dwarka SP Nitesh Pandey said, “The district administration is demolishing illegal encroachments in Harshad village of Kalyanpur tehsil of Dwarka. 800 police officers deployed at the spot.”
Gujarat | The district administration is demolishing illegal encroachments in Harshad village of Kalyanpur tehsil of Dwarka. 800 police officers deployed at the spot: Nitesh Pandey, SP, Dwarka pic.twitter.com/KTXK3Loq6k
— ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2023
Meanwhile Lok Sabha MP from Jamnagar, Poonam Maadam lauded Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel and Home Minister Harsh Sanghvi for maintaining law and order by clearing legal encroachment around Harshad Mataji Temple.
“Congratulations to Chief Minister Shri @Bhupendrapbjp Ji and Minister of Home Affairs Shri @sanghaviharsh Ji for maintaining law and order by taking strict action against the elements occupying government land by removing the illegal encroachment built around the holy pilgrimage Harshad Mataji Mandir,” a tweet by Maadam in Gujarati read.
પવિત્ર યાત્રાધામ હર્ષદ માતાજી મંદિર આજુબાજુમાં ઊભા કરવામાં આવેલા ગેરકાયદેસર દબાણો દૂર કરી સરકારી જમીન પર કબ્જો કરનાર તત્વો સામે કડક કાર્યવાહી થકી કાયદો અને વ્યવસ્થા જાળવવાના કાર્ય બદલ મુખ્યમંત્રી શ્રી @Bhupendrapbjp જી તથા ગૃહરાજ્યમંત્રી શ્રી @sanghaviharsh જીને અભિનંદન. pic.twitter.com/CXohxGPpKo
— Poonamben Maadam (@PoonambenMaadam) March 11, 2023
Illegal constructions bulldozed in Bet Dwarka over PFI connection
Notably, a mega demolition drive was conducted in October last year. Religious and private commercial constructions on government lands were demolished using bulldozers in large numbers. In the first phase, a total of 15 encroached constructions were razed off. The operation was carried out in presence of a tight police force.
गुजरात सरकार द्वारा आज से शुरू हुआ कृष्ण की नगरी बेट-द्वारका का सफाई अभियान, सरकारी जमीन पर बने अवैध स्ट्रक्चर हटाने का काम जारी इनमे कॉमर्शियल और धार्मिक स्ट्रक्चर्स हैं शामिल
— Nirnay Kapoor (@nirnaykapoor) October 1, 2022
पहले चरण में करीब 15 लोकेशंस पर होगी कार्यवाही @indiatvnews@sanghaviharsh @COLLECTORDWK
1️⃣ pic.twitter.com/TRL00Jgg4U
The mega operation was jointly carried out by various departments including revenue, panchayat, maritime, police, and power supply department after receiving inputs that the now-banned Islamist outfit PFI’s connections are active in Bet Dwarka and illegal activities are being carried out by grabbing government lands forcefully under the name of religion.