“Why did they allow us to settle on an illegal land?”

Mumbai: The chaotic, dirty, and filthy slums were just a depressing sight for many travellers who travelled from and through the Bandra East station. But for young Arif Isaak, it was a place where he played cricket with his friends and devoured biryanis and sivaiyas during Eid. For him, Garib Nagar was a place where he lived with his Ammi and his loved ones.

For him, it was a home. A place like no other in the whole world. A place that was loaded with memories and the warmth of family and friends. Growing up, he brought up his children the same way. Never would he believe that his home, which his father built would turn into rubble by the authorities as it was “illegal’.

Isaak, 45, was born in Garib Nagar, Bandra (East). He witnessed many structures mushroomed in the locality. Little did he ever think that this place was actually never his land. Today, his world is shattered as his house has been demolished for being illegal.

Isaak does not admit that it was his fault that they built a house on someone else’s land. He has a reason to believe that it was his place. He possesses several documents to establish his residence proof. When asked how he managed to get hold of these documents, a visibly angry Issak said, “You should ask that question to the government. They granted us these documents. If they knew the place was illegal, why did they let us settle here in the first place? They could have objected 50 years ago when we came to stay here.”

Isaak was not the only one for whom Garib Nagar was their home. Nusrat Shaikh, 28, is also in the league. As a child when she used to play with her friends in her locality she did not know that she was not a legal occupant of the place. She saw her grandparents and her parents living there without being asked a single question.

“If we were illegal, why were we granted all the legal documents?” Nusrat asked. “If they knew that the place was illegal, then why were we allowed to build our homes on this land?”

Like other dwellers, Issak and Nusrat have accepted a fact that his place never belonged to them. They say they do not want to be a hindrance to development. They are ready to give up the land that holds all their memories and emotions, but they are asking for an alternate shelter.

“We are not against development. If authorities want to demolish our houses, it’s fine but also grant us a place to live. Today, we have families and children who now have nowhere to stay,” said Issak.

Both of them are now staying with their respective families in the open under the bridge near Bandra Railways Station.

Meanwhile, the CPRO of the Western Railway Vineet Abhishek informed that the anti-encroachment drive is completed in five days. He said fences are being put up at the spot. He added that such encroachment drives will be carried out in the future as well.