Major Hyderabad Operation Recovers 861 Acres of Government Land Valued at Over Rs 15,000 Crore
In a dramatic and high-stakes enforcement action, the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) launched a sweeping crackdown on Saturday, deploying heavy police forces and bulldozers to secure 861 acres of prime government land in Ameenpur, Sangareddy. The operation, coordinated with revenue and municipal departments, led to the demolition of significant structures, including a six-storey apartment building, a large farmhouse, and a guest house, uncovering a sprawling network of alleged land encroachments.
Demolition Triggers Panic and Evacuation Chaos Among Residents
Demolition teams commenced work around 9 am, prompting panic as families rushed to evacuate and salvage belongings. Tenants of the six-storey building reported that nearly 45 families were residing there and claimed they received no prior notice. One resident expressed distress, stating, "We were not told anything. Suddenly in the morning, they came and started demolishing." He added that families were paying monthly rents of around Rs 12,000 with Rs 2,000 for maintenance and should have been granted time to relocate.
Residents alleged that parts of the structure were pulled down while some occupants were still inside, creating tense moments. They requested officials for a few hours to vacate, but demolition began almost immediately. Household items were hastily moved, with some residents shifting to nearby apartments and others moving in with relatives, using whatever transport was available in the rush.
HYDRAA's Early Morning Arrival and Tenant Claims of No Notice
HYDRAA teams reportedly arrived at the premises around 6 am, instructing residents of over 40 flats to vacate within a short period. All occupants were tenants, many of whom said they were unaware of any prior notice or its intended recipient. Officials, however, maintained that due process had been followed, with notices served on the property owner well in advance to allow sufficient evacuation time.
One tenant, living there for nine months, described how officials knocked on doors around 7 am and gave residents just an hour to leave. He questioned how a family could vacate a fully furnished home in such a short time and alleged that demolition began while residents were still moving belongings, damaging valuables like household appliances placed in balconies. Attempts to contact packers and movers were unsuccessful or prohibitively costly due to the urgency. With electricity disconnected, lifts became non-functional, forcing residents to manually carry furniture and belongings down staircases and dump them on the road, exacerbating chaos and strain during evacuation.
Commissioner Details Land Dispute and Alleged Encroachment Network
HYDRAA commissioner AV Ranganath stated that the total disputed extent in Ailapur village is about 1,263 acres, with 861 acres of vacant government land now secured through fencing. He clarified that the remaining portions include existing habitations, earlier layouts, and land under litigation, noting that houses belonging to poor and tribal families were not affected.
According to Ranganath, the action targets long-standing encroachments linked to alleged encroacher MA Mukheem and his associates. Despite a high court status quo order in place since 1998, Mukheem allegedly continued construction activity and land transactions. A farmhouse spanning nearly 40 acres and a guest house built in 2006 were reportedly constructed in violation of these orders.
Authorities further alleged that large-scale sale of government land was conducted from this base, including thousands of plots, some measuring around 100 square yards, which were sold to buyers, including low-income tribal families, for approximately Rs 10 lakh each. Ranganath said these transactions occurred despite the land remaining under dispute and subject to court orders, leading to gradual encroachment over years, supported by satellite imagery and mapping data. He added that Mukheem faces multiple criminal cases and is believed to have operated an organised network for over two decades.
Mixed Reactions and Official Focus on Preventing Future Encroachments
While the operation caused distress among tenants, some plot owners involved in legal disputes welcomed the crackdown, saying it could help curb illegal sales and bring clarity to a long-standing issue. Commissioner Ranganath reiterated that the focus remains on protecting government land and preventing fresh encroachments. He emphasized that the operation was based on revenue records, field verification, and supporting evidence, with no current stay order in force. Officials stated that fencing will help maintain the status quo until courts determine final ownership.
