New Delhi, June 10 — West Bengal witnessed a fresh wave of demolition drives on Monday targeting alleged illegal structures linked to Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders in Hooghly district and multiple areas of Kolkata. The operations, conducted by civic authorities with heavy police presence, come just days after a similar crackdown near Howrah Railway Station sparked a major political confrontation in the state.
According to reports from Press Trust of India (PTI), bulldozers were deployed to clear structures allegedly built on government land across several parts of West Bengal. The latest action forms part of a broader escalation in demolition drives that has expanded into Kolkata and surrounding regions in recent days. On Sunday, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) initiated demolition operations in Tiljala, Kasba, and Beleghata, targeting buildings allegedly constructed in violation of civic norms.
In Tiljala’s Ward 66, represented by TMC councillor Faiyaz Ahmed Khan, civic officials demolished unauthorized portions of buildings under tight security. The drive in Ward 66 follows a notice issued on May 21, which gave the owner 48 hours to produce building documents. When no response was received, the demolition squad proceeded with the action on Monday. A KMC official confirmed the timeline and rationale behind the demolition.
In Beleghata, authorities razed a partially constructed building on East Kuria Road allegedly linked to local TMC leader Raju Naskar. The action was taken after repeated notices went unheeded. Another demolition was carried out in Kasba in connection with ‘Sona Pappu’, a land scam accused currently under arrest. Reports indicate that a five-storey building in the area had been constructed without necessary approvals.
The escalation in demolition drives has triggered a sharp political response from TMC supremo and former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee. Addressing party workers and supporters on Sunday, Banerjee accused the Centre of promoting “state terrorism” and targeting the poor under the guise of anti-encroachment drives. She contrasted her government’s earlier rehabilitation efforts with the current demolitions, citing an example from the construction of the Kalyani Express Setu, where 43 homes were affected and rebuilt by her administration. “When Kalyani Express Setu was built, 43 homes were affected on the road, and we built 43 homes exactly the same for their rehabilitation. Now, there is looting, vandalism, and attempts to erase all traces,” she said.
Banerjee also issued a stern warning to the Centre, stating, “When you fall from power in Delhi, you will face the consequences of your actions — we are waiting for that day.” She appealed to the judiciary, asserting its role as the protector of the Constitution. “I want to remind the judiciary that they are the true protectors of the law… I will continue to fight a legal battle against state terrorism. I will see which holds more power — the Constitution or the nozzle of a gun,” she added.
The political confrontation has intensified between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and TMC over what the opposition has termed “bulldozer politics.” BJP leader and state urban development minister Agnimitra Paul visited one of the demolition sites and alleged large-scale corruption during the previous TMC regime. “During the previous regime, corruption flourished unchecked. Illegal constructions came up with the knowledge of civic authorities and under the patronage of influential leaders in exchange for money,” she said. Paul further stated that strict action will be taken against all involved in illegal constructions and those who facilitated such irregularities.
The ongoing demolition drives have not only intensified scrutiny over unauthorized constructions but have also become a focal point of political rhetoric, with both parties trading accusations over governance, legality, and the use of force in civic action.
