New Delhi: A demolition drive carried out by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) resulted in the destruction of numerous houses in Khajoori Khas on Wednesday. Among those left homeless is Wakeel Hassan, a renowned rat-hole miner known for his role in the rescue of 41 workers trapped in Uttarkashi’s Silkyara tunnel last November, news agency PTI reported.
Expressing dismay, Hassan lamented the loss and said, "We rescued 41 people in the Silkyara tunnel and in return we got this. Earlier, I had requested the authorities and the government to give this house to us but to no avail. Today, without any information, DDA came and demolished it."
The DDA defended its actions, asserting that the demolition was conducted on land designated for planned development. Responding to queries regarding the drive, the DDA issued a statement, saying, " On February 28, a demolition drive was conducted by the DDA to remove encroachment from its acquired land in village Khajoori Khas. The land was part of planned development land."
Earlier in the day, Hassan took to social media to share a video of the area, highlighting the demolition of the building he and his family had been residing in. He also mentioned having to visit a police station regarding the incident.
Accompanied by Munna Qureshi, another member of the rescue team, Hassan claimed they were subjected to police brutality during the incident. In response, a Delhi Police official stated that assistance was provided to maintain law and order during the demolition, which targeted several illegally constructed structures.
Hassan, along with five other members of the rat-hole mining team, resides in Khajoori Khas, while the remainder hails from Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh. Their expertise in unconventional mining techniques proved invaluable during the rescue operation in the Silkyara tunnel, where 41 workers were trapped for approximately 17 days following a collapse on November 12.