In a bizarre incident that has sparked a major controversy, more than 100 houses were allegedly demolished in the Nashir Nagar area of Katargam in Surat on June 30, but no one knows who carried out the demolition. The Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has denied issuing any demolition orders and claimed it had no role in the action, leading to the incident being described as a 'ghost demolition'.
Demolition in Presence of Officials
The demolition reportedly took place in the presence of SMC officials and police personnel, adding to the confusion over who actually authorized and executed the operation. Heavy machinery was seen clearing structures to make way for a road linked to a private construction project behind Nashir Nagar. However, civic authorities have maintained that no official demolition order was issued.
Political Reaction and Demand for Action
Katargam MLA Vinu Moradiya termed the incident 'extremely serious' and demanded strict action against those involved. 'I spoke to the municipal commissioner, and he confirmed that no demolition order was given by SMC. I have sought clarity on who carried out the demolition. Since no one other than SMC has the authority to demolish homes, this raises a serious question of law being taken into one's own hands,' he said.
SMC's Clarification and Inquiry Ordered
SMC Standing Committee Chairman Rajan Patel said the civic body had not demolished any structure in the area. 'This is a matter of investigation. We have ordered a detailed inquiry by senior officials to determine who carried out the demolition,' he said. Municipal commissioner M. Nagarajan clarified that the SMC team had visited the site only for a demarcation exercise related to a long-pending land issue. 'During that time, some structures were demolished by another party. The land belongs to a private entity, and they may have deployed machinery. The SMC has no role in the demolition,' he added.
Accountability Questions
With neither the civic body nor any agency taking responsibility, the incident has prompted questions over accountability and possible misuse of administrative presence at the site. The administration has initiated an inquiry to determine how large-scale demolition activity occurred in the presence of civic and police personnel without formal authorization. Local accounts suggest that bulldozers were deployed to clear structures allegedly to facilitate road access for a private development project, further deepening the ambiguity surrounding the operation.
As conflicting versions emerge from multiple stakeholders, the investigation aims to uncover who authorized the demolition and why it was carried out without official orders. The incident highlights concerns about law enforcement and the protection of property rights in the city.
