From National Hero to Destitute: The Tragic Story of an Indian Rescuer’s Home Demolition

Wakeel Hasan, the man who once held the spotlight as an Indian national hero, has tragically found himself homeless after a sudden turn of events.

The Rise to National Fame

Wakeel Hasan, a 45-year-old miner, gained nationwide recognition when he led a team in rescuing 41 workers trapped in a Himalayan tunnel. This heroic act occurred in November, when the group of workers found themselves stuck in a dangerous situation, and professional rescuers were unable to reach them with their tunnel drilling machines.

Hasan, a seasoned rat-hole miner, and his team decided to take matters into their own hands. With nothing but their hands and sheer determination, they dug for 26 gruelling hours to set the trapped workers free.

This heroic act earned Hasan significant recognition, including commendations from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a selfie with Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan. The nation celebrated their hero with cash awards and multiple interviews on TV channels.

A Sudden Turn of Events

Just three months later, Hasan’s life took a drastic turn. His daughter called him frantically, informing him that police officers had arrived at their home, intent on its demolition.

Following an altercation with the officers, Hasan arrived to find his home, a two-bedroom house that had been his family’s residence for over a decade, being torn down by a bulldozer. The Delhi Development Authority (DDA), the governing body tasked with planning and development in the capital, claimed the house was an illegal structure built on government land.

Hasan disagreed with this assessment, stating that he had received no prior notice and that he possessed the legal documents to prove his home’s legitimacy, including a government-issued electricity bill.

Questions of Discrimination

Wakeel Hasan was left questioning the motives behind the demolition. He suggested that the targeting of his home might be due to his religious affiliation, being part of a minority community. This sentiment was echoed by labour rights activist Sucheta De, who suggested the demolition was both illegal and criminal. She argued that it seemed targeted, anti-poor, and anti-minority.

Further, lawyer Kawalpreet Kaur pointed out that if Hasan’s property was indeed illegal, it was the government that needed to provide answers. She questioned why the government hadn’t acted earlier if Hasan had been living in the house illegally for over a decade.

The Bitter Reality of “Irregular” Neighbourhoods

In New Delhi, a city of over 30 million inhabitants, numerous residential neighbourhoods are classified as “irregular”. These neighbourhoods lack complete government approval, but are home to millions of residents. Among these are a significant proportion of the city’s Muslim population, who often find themselves forced to relocate to such areas following previous targeting of their homes by authorities.

Government officials and local authorities hold substantial power over residents in such neighbourhoods. This power extends to regularising localities before elections to gain voter support, as well as the authority to demolish homes. The only temporary solution often available to residents to avoid such demolitions is to pay bribes.

Hasan himself claimed that he had paid a hefty sum in 2016 as a bribe to prevent a partial demolition of his house. However, after the officials he paid were transferred to another department, the new replacements demanded bribes again. Hasan’s inability to pay this time coincided with the complete demolition of his home.

The Bigger Picture

The demolition of Hasan’s home isn’t an isolated incident. It fits into a larger pattern of government agencies targeting Muslim properties and religious structures across India. Last month, authorities in New Delhi demolished a 600-year-old mosque allegedly encroaching on government land. In the same week, police in Uttarakhand’s Haldwani town shot dead at least five people protesting the demolition of a mosque and school.

Amnesty International’s recent reports highlight the punitive demolition of at least 128 Muslim properties between April and June 2022, which left at least 617 people homeless or without livelihoods.

A Hope for Justice

Despite the tragic turn of events, Hasan is prepared to fight for justice through a lengthy court battle. He insists that he won’t leave until his house is restored to him. As his family sits by the side of the road, eating on a damaged bed under a tarpaulin provided by neighbours, they cling to hope amidst the rubble of their former home.

The story of Wakeel Hasan serves as a stark reminder of the struggles faced by minority communities in India. His journey from national hero to homeless reflects the need for greater protection of human rights and housing justice in India.