ICC Note:

Indian government officials gave no warning to 16 people before they barged into their homes, threw their belongings into a truck, and told them to leave. After the people left their homes, the government razed the buildings to the ground. The residents claim that their homes were built on land belonging to a church, but they had received permission to live there. Human rights activists assert that a Supreme Court ruling in India protects church land and that the government cannot claim the land. Locals and other Christians protested the eviction and destruction.

04/05/2017 India (Times of India) – In a brazen move by district officials, as many as 16 people were rendered homeless after the revenue department demolished their homes behind the Civil Court in Secunderabad on Monday. The incident led to a protest at the site on Tuesday as locals, along with members of St John’s Church in the vicinity, demanded that the victims be relocated in new houses.

The affected residents claimed that the land belonged to the Marredpally church, built in 1813, and they had been living there with permission from the Anglican church. “We are completely helpless. We have small children, where does the government expect us to go?” said Mathilda, a beautician who was ousted from her house. According to her, the authorities did not issue any prior notice before the demolition drive.

Another resident, Assunkossu, said, “I not only have an ailing father-in-law but also two children to take care of. Without a roof over my head, where do I go now?” The homeless had to turn to their neighbours for shelter for their children. The adults spent the night in the open. Most of those evicted deliver newspapers to run their household.

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