— Photo: Vivek Bendre

``NOWHERE TO GO'': A woman pleads with the police after eviction was carried out on Azad Maidan in Mumbai on Thursday.

MUMBAI : On any normal day, Mumbai's Azad Maidan is abuzz with activity — with demonstrations and protesters.

But on Thursday, it looked deserted after the police, following court orders, evicted all those who had set up camp there, broke down temporary structures and prevented entry into the ground.

Police said that the people had received notices and were given time to move out.

However, those evicted complained that their valuables and belongings were taken away. They now have to collect them from the ward office.

The order to clear the ground in one week's time was passed during the hearing of a PIL petition filed by Professor Ratnakar Shetty of the Maharashtra Cricket Association.

An earlier High Court order restricts demonstrations in the city to the Azad Maidan. Protestors are not allowed to demonstrate in groups outside the ground.

Among the evicted were slum-dwellers of Mandala near Mankhurd, a northeastern suburb of Mumbai, who, led by NBA leader Medha Patkar, have been protesting against slum demolitions.

Parveen Jehangir of the National Alliance of Peoples' Movement said police detained over 50 people and that they were released on personal bond in the evening.

"The question we want to ask is whether the constitutional right to play cricket is over our constitutional right to live, protest and seek appointment of the government that we have elected to power? These people are not living there but they are just waiting for an appointment."

Ashok Bulkur, who had come from Nashik five months ago, said that now their right to protest had been taken away. "My demands have not been heard. I had come here to ask for better rights for farmers but I have not met anyone. Now am told to go from here."

While there were individuals such as Ashok, there were groups of 50 to 60 people residing there for over two to three years.

Sitabai Kalhe of the Dalit Mahasangh said, "We have been here for few years now. We never troubled others and have been waiting for our houses. Now we have nowhere to go."

Assistant Inspector Chandrakant Jamdade said that over 100 were arrested during the drive and added that since it was a bailable offence, most would be released soon.

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