Mumbai: Forest Department demolishes 9 structures in Malad East after Kurar police request

The Forest Department acting on a request from Kurar police demolished nine structures in Malad East on September 7 that were allegedly occupied by 11 people with multiple cases registered against them under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances NDPS ActThe structures were located on forest land in areas including Popat Compound Ambedkar Nagar Matang Gad Lalubhai Compound Jaiswar Nagar Jamrushi Nagar and Shanti Nagar Police said theese people had repeatedly faced NDPS cases and that action was intended to disrupt alleged drugrelated activity However Forest Department said demolition was carried out specifically because structures were on forest land following a request from the policelsquoNot a wider demolition driversquoSGNP Director and Conservator of Forests Anita Patil said the action was limited to the nine structures identified by police ldquoThis was not a larger drive Other residents in proximity to these homes on the forest land continue to stay until further clarity from the government These select nine structures were demolished by the forest department as per the specific request from the police The residents of these nine structures had police cases on them under the NDPS Act Our department carried out the demolition while police ensured law and orderrdquoWho was targetedAccording to Kurar police Sayla Subhash Patel alias Shalu Raju Pawar 35 Dharmendra Jaiswar 20 Sikander Jaiswar 21 Pushpa Tayde 36 Subhash Patel 41 Sonu Ramnath Nishad 27 Mohammad Ibrahim Abdul Aziz Sheikh alias John 59 Amina Ansari 39 Aisha Salim Sheikh 40 Santosh Ashok Shirke 21 Gufran Ali Mumtaz Ali Khan 35Who supervised the actionThe initiative was taken on the orders of Deputy Commissioner of Police North Zone 3 Gajanan Shivling Rajmane The operation was carried out under the guidance of Rajmane and Assistant Commissioner of Police Samta Nagar Division Kailas Barve Kurar Senior PI Sushil Kumar Gaikwad supervised the police teamThe Forest Departmentrsquos demolition drive in Kurar Malad East on September 7 PicsSatej ShindeWhat happens nextldquoThese repeat offenders of NDPS Act had constructed these homes illegally on forest land through drug trade We will be continuing the action with accused illegally residing on lands of BMC Railway authorities as wellrdquo a senior police officer saidPolice say Target the infrastructureldquoWhen illegal activities like drug trade and gambling are carried out from any place it becomes important to act on the property as a preventive measure Legal provisions empower us to do this We had insisted the same to the forest department and their response and support for our prevention measures was positiverdquo said a senior police officialThe official said police were also preparing lists of alleged drug peddlers operating near railway stations for similar preventive action ldquoWe are collating similar lists for drug peddlers near railway stations as well to bring positive change Preventive action on drug trade is vital drug peddlers are ruining our youth and societyrdquoNotice issuedAs per a senior forest official this was a twomonthlong process with the police first reaching out to the forest department in July following which the Forest Department issued two notices to the occupants of the 9 structures ldquoQueries in response to the notices were also resolved by us and the demolition finally took place in SeptemberrdquoWhat the police action is based onNDPS cases Police said multiple cases under the NDPS Act had been registered against the 11 peopleForest land The structures were allegedly unauthorised and located on forest landPolice request The Forest Department carried out the demolition following a specific request from Kurar policeLaw and order Police provided security