[Reader-list] Shambhu's Eviction

[ranu ghosh]

SHAMBHU'S FAMILY FORCIBLY OUSTED FROM THEIR RESIDENCE
INSIDE THE SOUTH CITY PREMISES

Very few people know that Shambhu Prasad Singh, an erstwhile skilled
worker of Jay Engineering Works, has been clinging on to his quarter
no: 4/11 inside the premises of South City, for more than three years.
He had refused to accept the meager compensation doled out by his
employers and had filed a case against them to demand an appropriate
compensation package. The court had given him stay order and he, along
with his family, continued to stay on in his humble tenement amidst
the growing towers.

It was a prolonged battle of nerves for Shambhu, where he had to brave
threats from the South City authorities, apathy of the legal system
and work hard to sustain the legal battle. On the 21st of December he
had a court hearing, where the judge said that the final verdict would
be given on the 6th of January. All indications pointed towards
Shambhu winning the case.

On the 24th of December at 8.30pm, a group of about 10 women and 4
men, their faces covered with black cloth, stormed in to Shambhu's
quarter. Shambhu's sister in law and her 10 years old son were alone
in the house. The men and women gagged the woman and the child, tied
them up and locked them in a neighbouring flat, while they looted all
that they could lay their hands on – all the clothes, 15,000 Rupees
and most importantly all the court papers.  Then they threatened to
give a sedative injection to the child, which Shambhu's sister in law
protested vehemently and promised not to shout and raise a ruccus.
They were forcibly taken out of the South City premises and abandoned
just outside the gate with no belongings except the clothes they were
wearing, the child barefoot and shivering with cold. Both Shambhu and
his brother arrived in due time and found that the staircase to their
quarter was already demolished. They went to Jadavpur Thana to file an
FIR. The FIR was lodged the next morning.

Meanwhile, residents of nearby buildings have given shelter to
Shambhu;s family. They have been given spare clothes and food to eat.
The local councillor has come and looked into the matter. Shambhu is
bracing himself for one more battle. He needs you beside him to give
him courage and show him the way. We request you to congregate at the
South City gate at 4pm on the 26th of December to express your
solidarity with Shambhu.