The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) on Wednesday conducted a demolition drive in the Khajoori Khas area, razing several illegal structures. One of those affected is Wakeel Hassan, a rat-hole miner who was part of the team that successfully rescued 41 workers trapped in Uttarkashi's Silkyara tunnel in November of the previous year.
Reacting on the matter, Delhi LG VK Saxena said, "I have been told about this. We will compensate for this and will provide a home".
Earlier in the day, Hassan told ANI that authorities were demolishing his house without notice.
He claimed that the government assured him that his home would not be damaged, but it was destroyed regardless. Hassan also accused police of bringing Hassan's minor children to the police station and beating them.
He said, "I don't understand why this is happening to me. We did such good work but in return, my own house has been razed. Where will I take my children? It is tough to earn a living, how will I buy a house? The only option left for us is to die. I asked the people who came to demolish my house why they were doing it, but they did not say anything or show any papers.
Hassan made serious allegations, saying: "We were sent to the police station, and my children, wife, and I were kept there. My son was beaten up and injured. The entire world is praising us. The Uttarakhand government gave us Rs 50,000, which is nothing in today's money. We have so much debt, and we need to feed our children. I have no idea what we will do now".
According to media reports, in a video message earlier, Hassan had said, "My house is the only thing I asked for as an award (for the Uttarakhand rescue operation), but DDA razed my home without notice."
In the video, Hassan showed the aftermath of the demolition. He also mentioned having to go to a police station in connection with the incident. Munna Qureshi, another member of the rescue team, appeared in the video with him and claimed that they were subjected to police brutality during the incident.
In response to inquiries about the demolition drive, the DDA stated that it was carried out on land designated for planned development and told news agency PTI, "On February 28, a demolition drive was conducted by the DDA to remove encroachment from its acquired land in village Khajoori Khas".
Hassan and five other members of the Rathole mining team live in Khajoori Khas, while the rest are from Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh. The rat-hole mining team was instrumental in the rescue operation at the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand, using unique techniques to clear rubble and free the trapped workers.