Surat: Thirteen days after the mysterious broad daylight demolition of more than 100 houses in Nasir Nagar, the truth behind the operation and the agencies responsible for razing remain elusive even as public outrage continues to grow.Many displaced residents continue to live at the site under the open sky. Children and elderly people spend their days searching for shade from the scorching heat, while families worry about their belongings lying exposed as the monsoon approaches.The inquiry committee formed by the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has yet to submit even a preliminary report, and no deadline has been fixed for completing the probe.Meanwhile, the Congress on Friday staged a dharna at the demolition site and demanded a high-level state govt inquiry.The six-member committee has not yet disclosed any initial findings, despite being constituted four days ago. SMC officials, meanwhile, continue to face criticism for issuing contradictory statements about the incident.“No preliminary report has been submitted and there is no deadline. The inquiry is underway and any significant findings will be shared,” said deputy municipal commissioner Meena Gajjar, who heads the committee. Sources said statements of key officials involved in the operation are yet to be recorded.The committee was constituted nine days after the demolition. Initially, top SMC officials denied any involvement, maintaining that the civic body did not carry out the exercise. Following widespread criticism, officials acknowledged their presence at the site, claiming they went there only for demarcation and road-clearing work.Strangely, even Surat’s municipal commissioner M Nagarajan claims to have no clue who carried out the demolition.Leader of Opposition in the Gujarat Assembly and Khedbrahma Congress MLA Tushar Chaudhary led Friday’s protest. “Hundreds have been rendered homeless, yet the SMC still claims it does not know who demolished the houses. In any city, the civic body is accountable for such actions. Here, the demolition was carried out illegally with police support,” he alleged.“Even after nearly two weeks, nobody knows who demolished over 100 homes. Why did officials present at the site go on leave immediately afterwards? Why have those who supplied the machinery disappeared?” Chaudhary asked.In a video statement on Thursday, zonal head and additional city engineer Ashish Naik said some SMC officials went on leave due to health issues arising from the “mental pressure” generated by the controversy.During the protest, he demanded that the SMC provide alternative accommodation to affected families and wrote to the chief minister seeking a high-level inquiry for a time-bound investigation.
