Church demolished in Calcutta for ‘road expansion’ project, locals fume

Calcutta – A church in Kalikapur, South Calcutta, that served as a shelter for underprivileged children has been razed down by the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA) leaving the locals fuming, but helpless.

The demolition drive on January 15 followed a court order that authorised the demolition of the Christ Mission Ashram to complete a road expansion project undertaken a decade ago, which, when completed, will bring down the journey time for airport bound traffic from the south of the city.

The demolition, initially scheduled for December 7, 2005, was postponed following widespread protests by the local Christian community, led by Bangiya Christiyo Parisheba (BCP or Bengali Christians Association) along with some 150 slum children. (See ‘Christians protest demolition drive, slum children’s future uncertain’
http://in.christiantoday.com/news/mis_165.htm)

On January 15, at around 6 am in the morning, KMDA employees entered the mission compound through the back gate and began demolishing the buildings. Woken by the noise, the locals rushed to the site and soon a 100–strong mob gathered that protested the demolition drive. In the brief scuffle that ensued before the police intervened, some 10 people including children were injured.

According to news reports, some activists affiliated to the political party, Trinamool Congress, tried to prevent the demolition, but were kept at bay by a large contingent of police that was deployed in the area. A picket was also posted and the area cordoned off to pre–empt further protests.

By 10 am, the buildings were completely razed down and the Ashram, a 33–cottah plot that housed the church, a creche, a women’s hostel and a school, was no mor, leaving the children without shelter and with an uncertain future.

Rev. Sukrit Roy strongly condemned the demolition drive, stating that the church was “more than a home” for the children.

While the KMDA has affirmed that it has rehabilitation and relocation plans for those affected by the demolition, yet, it has questioned the Ashram’s claim to ownership. “We are against hurting the feelings of the community. We did prepare and offer a compensation package that includes the cost of the plot. The offer is still valid. All they (Christ Mission Ashram) could have done was prove their ownership and avail of the offer. They can do it even now,” said Debdas Bhattacharya, chief engineer, traffic and transportation, KMDA.

“If the package has still not been availed of, one will have to ascertain who is the actual owner of the plot,” added a senior official of the land acquisition department.

However, the church officials have denied having any knowledge about the alleged “package offer.” “At no point in the past decade did the government offer us an alternative site for relocation,” claimed Rev. Roy. “We have now been thrown out on the streets.”

The church authorities have already submitted a complaint to the State Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi, the State Chief Minister, Buddhadeb Bhattacharya and the Minority Commission. A memorandum has also been submitted to the President of India complaining against the official atrocities.

“The Minority Commission had written back to us saying they would look into the matter,” said Herod Mullick, general secretary of the Bangiya Krishtiya Parisheba, the umbrella organisation of Christians in the state.

“Now they have done this,” he fumed, indicating a sinister motive behind the razing of the Ashram on a Sunday. “It was a heinous operation and a blatant violation of human rights.”

“It’s not that the demolition has come all of a sudden for Church authorities,” explained Bhattacharya. “We had been in talks with them for some time.”

Incidentally, the matter was pending in the Calcutta High Court, which on January 13 ruled in favour of the KMDA, paving the way for the demolition of the structures.

“Last year, they [the Christians] filed several appeals seeking time. Then, Christmas came in the way. After the high court order, we didn’t want to drag the issue any longer. The stretch, after all, has to be completed,” Debdas insisted.

According to the national daily, The Telegraph, even after the demolition was over, the church members continued their protest by covering their faces with strips of black cloth and waving black flags. Some members of the church had also put up a barricade on the site with aluminium sheets to prevent the authorities from disposing of Sunday’s debris.

While the residents of ladies’ hostel have now taken temporary shelter in a warehouse, male members have pitched up tents on the plot where the church once stood and are taking turns to guard the church property and provide security to the women. “It is quite cold and the place is unsafe for us. But we have no choice,” said Ashram inmate Shobha Mullick.