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BHUBANESWAR: (Report- Priya Ranjan Nayak): A major eviction drive by the South Eastern Railway near the Mancheswar Railway Station turned tense on Friday. While officials cleared several illegal structures, the move sparked a heated confrontation between slum dwellers and authorities. Residents are now accusing the railway administration of practicing "selective justice" by targeting the poor while ignoring wealthy encroachers. 
Bhubaneswar Eviction Row: Railways Target Poor, Spare the Rich?


The Eviction Drive

A specialized team from the Railway Works Department arrived at the South Cabin area near Mancheswar station to reclaim government land. The officials, backed by a large contingent of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP), began demolishing makeshift huts (shanties) located along the tracks.
As the bulldozers moved in, residents of the slum gathered to protest. The situation quickly escalated into a verbal spat between the locals and the eviction officials. To prevent the situation from turning into a physical riot, security forces were deployed heavily to maintain law and order.

Allegations of Inequality

The main cause of the public anger was the perceived unfairness of the operation. Residents pointed out that the railway land between VSS Nagar and Mancheswar Station is occupied by more than just small huts. Many influential individuals have reportedly built:
  • Multi-story concrete buildings
  • Private schools and offices
  • Concrete bridges and boundary walls
The protesters alleged that the officials only demolished the small huts of the poor. They claimed the authorities ignored the large concrete structures belonging to wealthy individuals. "The officers come and break our small shelters, but they don't even touch the big buildings right next to us," one resident said.

Corruption Claims and Lack of Rehabilitation

Local residents and some activists have gone as far as to accuse senior railway officials of accepting bribes. They believe these officials are deliberately avoiding legal action against powerful encroachers.
Furthermore, intellectuals and social workers have expressed concern over the lack of a rehabilitation plan. Many families have lived in these settlements for decades. Critics argue that the government should provide alternative housing before destroying the only homes these families have.

Current Status

While the eviction of the shanties was completed today, the atmosphere in the area remains tense. The public is now waiting to see if the South Eastern Railway will take similar action against the larger illegal buildings or if the drive will stop here. For now, the question of whether the law applies equally to everyone remains unanswered.