Saviour stranded

After the demolition of his house, the hero of Silkyara refuses to budge 

- MOHIT SHARMA

Wakeel Hassan’s three children are resolutely finishing homework even as they camp along with their parents outside their demolished house in northeast Delhi’s Khajuri Khas. They are trying hard to support their father in every way. Less than four months ago, they were busy receiving guests with congratulatory gestures—Hassan and his team had returned after saving 41 trapped workers from the Silkyara tunnel in Uttarakhand. The world watched as Hassan averted tragedy. Now, he is faced with tragedy. And, the hero of Silkyara is sulking.

On February 28, his house was demolished by Delhi Development Authority bulldozers as part of a drive against encroachment. Amid accusations of selective action, the DDA, a body controlled by the Centre, clarified that action was taken on land that is “part of planned development”. It further said that the proceedings were initiated in 2016 and that the family was aware of their encroachment and had resisted enforcement in 2018 and again in 2022. As per the DDA, the ladies of the family had threatened self-immolation after barricading themselves within the premises.

“At no point of time before or during demolition were officials aware about the recent contribution of Wakeel in the rescue operation in the Silkyara-Barkot tunnel in Uttarakhand,’’ a DDA statement says. “When this fact came to light, officials of DDA, having made alternative arrangements for shelter to Wakeel and his family, went on site and contacted him. But he refused to avail of any offer and demanded a permanent house at the same location or in the vicinity.”