In a powerful and detailed statement issued today, the Gujarat chapter of the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) has condemned the recent mass detentions, public parading, and large-scale demolitions in the Chandola area of Ahmedabad. The civil liberties organization described the actions of the state as “inhumane and unconstitutional,” raising serious concerns about violations of fundamental human rights, particularly against marginalized communities.
“The People’s Union for Civil Liberties, Gujarat strongly condemns the recent inhumane and unconstitutional actions of parading of detenues from Chandola area; and the evictions from Chandola followed by demolition of more than 1500 houses without providing for alternative housing.”
The events began in the early hours of April 26, when police personnel arrived at ‘Bengali Vas’, a densely populated locality near Chandola Lake. According to PUCL, the police forcibly entered homes, dragged people out, and transported them to the Kankaria Football Ground. A total of 890 people — including 457 men, 219 women, and 214 children — were detained. They were made to sit on the ground for hours in the growing heat of the morning.
Subsequently, the detainees were paraded through public roads at around 7:00 AM, covering the distance between the football ground and the offices of the Detection of Crime Branch and the Special Operations Group in Juhapura. PUCL described this treatment as deeply degrading:
“The modus operandi of the police wherein they barged into homes during the wee hours of the morning, the manner in which they were herded like cattle and made to walk more than 6-7 kms in the heat… are a violation of their fundamental rights as citizens.”
Family members were kept uninformed about the whereabouts or legal status of the detainees. The statement claims that relatives waited outside police stations in Shahibaug, Gaikwad Haveli, and Juhapura in sweltering heat, uncertain if their loved ones had been formally arrested or detained. PUCL also highlighted that authorities rejected valid identification documents in many cases, labeling them as forged, despite the fact that many of those detained were Indian citizens from states like Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and West Bengal.
PUCL challenged claims by state authorities that the detainees were illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. The Gujarat Minister of State for Home, Harsh Sanghavi, had alleged the presence of Bangladeshi nationals in the area, but PUCL argued that the majority were bona fide Indian citizens with documentary evidence to prove their residence.
Referring to constitutional protections under Articles 14 and 21, the organization stated:
“Even if some of those who were thus detained were from Bangladesh, under Article 14 and 21, every person staying within the territory of India is protected under certain human rights, such as equality before law and prevention of arbitrary or discriminatory detention.”
The organization further cited violations of the D.K. Basu Guidelines and National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) protocols on custodial dignity.
“The actions of the police also constitute serious violations of the process of detention and arrest... It is extremely distressing that the police have ignored and violated the NHRC guidelines... public parading of detainees is considered a form of extrajudicial punishment and is discouraged or condemned.”
Adding to the tragedy, nearly 2,500 children have reportedly been displaced, with their right to shelter and education thrown into uncertainty. PUCL criticized the government for demonstrating “a totally inhumane attitude to the people who have been living in that vicinity since at least 3-4 decades.”
A petition filed in the Gujarat High Court by affected citizens was heard on an emergency basis. While the court declined to stay the demolition — citing that the settlements were on a notified water body — it did observe that those who can prove residence prior to 2010 may be entitled to rehabilitation under the state’s Slum Rehabilitation Scheme.
PUCL concluded its statement with strong demands:
- Immediate compensation and rehabilitation for all working poor people whose homes have been demolished.
- Investigation and legal action against police officers responsible for the humiliation and violation of detainees' rights.
- Humane treatment and a fair legal process for individuals identified as foreign nationals.
“It is shameful and criminal that the police paraded the citizens of India (and perhaps suspected illegal immigrants too) who were arrested or detained, robbing them of their dignity, and also endangered their health by making them walk several kilometers in the summer heat. This is nothing short of custodial torture and totally unacceptable,” PUCL stated.
The statement is signed by Anand Yagnik, President of PUCL Gujarat, and Mujahid Nafees, General Secretary, calling for urgent accountability and justice for the victims of what they describe as a human rights crisis unfolding in Ahmedabad.
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