In May 2026, the Western Railway launched a demolition drive to remove nearly 500 structures spread across approximately 5,200 square metres of land at Garib Nagar, near Bandra East railway station in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The eviction drive was undertaken to clear railway land for the proposed Integrated Bandra Railway Complex, which includes the expansion of the sixth railway line between Bandra Terminus and Mumbai Central to accommodate additional long-distance train services. The conflict centres on the competing claims over urban land between railway infrastructure development and the housing rights of residents who have occupied the settlement for decades.
On 16 May 2026, residents were informed of the impending demolition following an order by the Bombay High Court permitting the railway authorities to remove structures across Garib Nagar, except for 100 homes protected by the court. The railway authorities began demolishing the structures on 19 May, mobilising nearly 1,000 personnel alongside the local police to maintain law and order. The densely packed settlement contained structures exceeding four storeys, requiring extensive demolition teams and bulldozers.
Residents argue that hundreds of low-income families, many of whom have lived in the settlement for decades, are being uprooted with inadequate rehabilitation and little time to relocate. They alleged that demolition work on neighbouring structures damaged their homes, rendering some unsafe for habitation. The damage, coupled with disruptions to electricity and water supplies, forced several families to leave their homes temporarily despite the court-ordered protection.
On 20 May, the authorities started demolition of a mosque and a madrassa in the locality. The residents claim that they were not informed of the demolition of the religious structure. The demolition triggered religious sentiments in the region dominated by the muslim community. During the demolition the community started pelting stones on the authority and attempted to physically stop the eviction. In response, the police retaliated with lathi-charge leading to a four-hour long conflict between locals and police. The incident led to injury to at least 10 police person and an unknown number of residents.
The demolition drive continued for five days, until May 23, under heavy police deployment.
On 25 May, railway authorities started the demolition of all storeys of the protected structure. The residents informed the officials to manually break the top storeys. However, the authorities used bulldozers which led to the collapse of five entire protected structures.
According to Western Railway, eviction proceedings under the Public Premises Act began before 2017, and eviction orders were issued in November that year. Railway authorities maintain that the structures are unauthorised encroachments on public land, while residents have raised concerns about the short notice preceding the demolition, the loss of their homes and uncertainty over rehabilitation.
Later, the police filed a case against 100 people on charges including attempt to murder, rioting, unlawful assembly, assault on government officials and damage to public property. The police arrested 19 people in the incident. The arrested were presented in the Bandra sessions court and were sent for seven-day remand.
Following the demolition drive, the cleared site was cordoned off with a boundary wall, preventing residents from returning to the land and effectively making their eviction permanent.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Demand for rehabilitation
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Region Classification
Urban
Type of Land
Common
Non-Forest (Other than Grazing Land)
What was the action taken by the police?
Arrest
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
19
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Currently under arrest
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
Yes
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
Yes, they were produced within 24 hours
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Section 61(2)[Criminal conspiracy];Section 109 [Attempt to murder]; Section 121(1)&(2)[Voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt to deter public servant from his duty]; Section 132[Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty] Section 189[Unlawful assembly];Section 190[Every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object]; Section 191(2)&(3)[Rioting.]
Prevention of destruction of public property Act
Section 3[Mischief causing damage to public property]
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
Yes they were informed, Yes they had access
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
No
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Original Project Deadline
Whether the Project has been Delayed
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Dwelling/habitation use
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Source/Reference
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
Type of investment:
Year of Estimation
Has the Conflict Ended?
Yes
When did it end?
May 2026
Why did the conflict end?
After the evictions, the residents were removed from the said location and the location was compounded with wall leading to their permanent eviction.
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Other, Land Acquisition Laws, Case Laws
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
Yes
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Forced evictions/dispossession of land
Lack of legal protection over land rights
Legal Status:
In Court
Status of Case In Court
Disposed
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
Yes
Name of the adjudicatory body
Bombay High Court
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Case Number
WRIT PETITION (L) NO.17200 OF 2026
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
BNS 109, 121(1), 121(2), 132, 189(2), 189(3), 190, 191(2), 191(3), 61(2); Prevention of destruction of public property act section 3
Reported Details of the Violation:
During the second day of the demolition of Garib Nagar, the authorities started the demolition of a Mosque and a Madrassa in the locality. The residents claim that they were not informed of the demolition of the religious structure. The demolition triggered religious sentiments in the region dominated by the muslim community. During the demolition the community started pelting stones on the authority and attempted to physically stop the eviction. In response the police retaliated with lathi-charge leading to a 4-hour long conflict between locals and police. The incident led to injury to at least 10 police person and an unknown number of residents. Later, the police filed a case on 100 people on charges including attempt to murder, rioting, unlawful assembly, assault on government officials and damage to public property. The police has now arrested 19 people in the incident. The arrested were presented in the Bandra sessions court and were sent for 7-day remand.
Date of Violation
May 19, 2026
Location of Violation
Garib Nagar, Bandra
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
Western Railways
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
What was the action taken by the police?
Arrest
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
19
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Currently under arrest
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
Yes
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
Yes, they were produced within 24 hours
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Section 61(2)[Criminal conspiracy];Section 109 [Attempt to murder]; Section 121(1)&(2)[Voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt to deter public servant from his duty]; Section 132[Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty] Section 189[Unlawful assembly];Section 190[Every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object]; Section 191(2)&(3)[Rioting.]
Prevention of destruction of public property Act
Section 3[Mischief causing damage to public property]
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
Yes they were informed, Yes they had access
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
No
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
Shubham is a housing rights activist based in Mumbai. He has a post graduate from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai in urban policy and governance.
