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Hundreds stripped of homes in Panchkula demolition drive

In a massive three-hour operation conducted by the Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA), approximately 300 families were left devoid of shelter after the ruthless demolition of Fatehpur Colony on Friday. The operation witnessed a remarkable deployment of resources, including approximately 300 law enforcement officers, a hundred bureaucrats, and a fleet of five to six excavators.

The aggrieved residents voiced strong accusations of partiality against HUDA, alleging an arbitrary approach during the drive. Despite the evidence of regularly paid property tax, electricity, and water bills, their dwellings were bulldozed. Interestingly, a temple, illegally built on the roadside, was exempted from demolition, raising eyebrows on the operation's fairness.

Adding to their grievances, the residents claimed that 59 households had successfully secured stay orders against the anticipated demolition. They sought a two-day extension to prepare for the situation, but their plea fell on deaf ears.

Countering the accusations, HUDA estate officer, Manav Mallik, asserted that no court had issued a stay order against the demolition. He stated that due notices had been circulated in advance. Malik disclosed that the operation had liberated about 7 acres of government land illegally occupied. He further revealed that 250 plots spanning across 13 acres had been allotted by HUDA but remained inaccessible to the allottees due to illegal occupation. Among these, fifty plots had been auctioned off already.

Fatehpur Colony, nestled beside Housing Society number 79 in Sector 20, has been home to many for several years. This sudden displacement has thrown the lives of hundreds of families into turmoil.

In conclusion, as the dust settles on Fatehpur Colony, it leaves behind a tale of shattered homes and misplaced hopes. Amidst the conflicting statements and simmering discontent, a call for fair treatment and judicial recourse echoes. As this unsettling incident unfolds, it stands as a stark reminder of the vulnerable lives poised on the edge of urban development and the urgent need for equitable housing policies.

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