Reporters Without Orders Ep 378: Elite impunity, makeshift detention centres in NCR

This week, host Pratyush Deep is joined by Newslaundry’s Drishti Choudhary and Sumedha Mittal.

Drishti reported on how elite societies in Delhi have encroached on public footpaths. During visits to several gated colonies, she found that sidewalks next to posh homes were taken over by landlords – with parked cars, potted plants, guard booths, and other structures eating into public space. In some cases, the encroachments even forced roads to become one-way. She pointed out the stark double standard: while the government is quick to demolish slums and informal settlements, it turns a blind eye to violations by the well-off.

Sumedha discussed her report on the detention of Bengali and Assamese migrant workers in Gurugram in makeshift centres. She found that Bengali-speaking Muslims, especially those living in slums across Delhi and Gurugram, have been detained on suspicion of being undocumented Bangladeshi immigrants. Families allege that police arrived at midnight, demanded identity papers, and in some cases picked up individuals despite them showing valid documents – including voter IDs, Aadhaar cards, and passports. No formal notice was given.

Tune in.

Timecodes

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:02:38 - Elite encroachment

00:25:45 - Detained migrants

00:33:20 - Recommendations

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Produced and edited by Saif Ali Ekram, recorded by Anil Kumar.