Mumbai: 7 Police Personnel Injured During Anti-Encroachment Drive at Slum Area in Bandra (Watch Videos)
Seven police personnel and six protesters were injured on Wednesday after violence erupted during an anti-encroachment demolition drive at the Garib Nagar slum cluster in Bandra (East). A large crowd clashed with enforcement teams and threw stones, promptimg the police to use a lathi-charge to control the situation.
At least seven police personnel were injured after violence broke out during an anti-encroachment drive in Mumbai’s Bandra area, where residents allegedly hurled stones at officials and police teams carrying out demolition work in the Garib Nagar slum near Bandra railway station, as reported by TOI. Several protesters were also injured, and multiple people were detained following the clashes, according to officials.
The incident occurred on the second day of a large-scale demolition drive launched by the Western Railway to clear alleged encroachments on railway land in the Garib Nagar area of Bandra East. Authorities said the operation was being conducted following directions from the Bombay High Court. Mumbai Police ACP Booked Under POCSO Act for Flashing Private Parts at Minor Girl in Worli.
Anti-Encroachment Drive at Garib Nagar Slum in Bandra
The administration's bulldozer action in Garib Nagar, Bandra East, Mumbai: The detention of protesters during the demolition drive created a tense atmosphere in Garib Nagar. Heavy police presence and emotional scenes were witnessed ! pic.twitter.com/DFgNo28e9i
— Dharm (@dhram00) May 21, 2026
Bulldozers rolled through a slum in #Mumbai's Bandra East area. This slum, inhabited nearly two hundred years ago, now lies abandoned. Residents, along with their wives and children, sat in an open field, carrying household items, watching their homes collapse. https://t.co/9N5bMb3nVe pic.twitter.com/x602Bq94nZ
— Siraj Noorani (@sirajnoorani) May 20, 2026
Tensions escalated when officials began demolishing what authorities described as an unauthorized religious structure within the slum cluster. A large crowd gathered at the site, and stone-pelting soon followed, prompting police intervention. Mumbai Police Saves Life of Woman Attempting Suicide by Jumping Into Sea at Marine Drive (Watch Video).
Police reportedly used lathi-charge measures to disperse the crowd and regain control of the area. Officials said around 10 to 15 people were detained in connection with the violence.
Residents Raise Concerns Over Evictions
Some local residents claimed that demolition teams did not provide enough time for families to remove their belongings before structures were razed. According to reports, several families, including children and elderly residents, were left without shelter during the ongoing operation.
The eviction drive is part of a broader effort to remove unauthorized constructions near railway property around Bandra station. Authorities are aiming to clear thousands of square metres of encroached land during the multi-day exercise.
Heavy Security Deployed in Area
Following the clashes, police presence in the area was increased to prevent further unrest. Officials said the situation was later brought under control, though tensions remained high in parts of the locality. The incident adds to a series of confrontations seen in different parts of the country during anti-encroachment and demolition drives, where authorities often face resistance from affected residents.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 21, 2026 08:16 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
