Aziz, a Muslim tailor from Akbar Nagar, Lucknow, died by suicide after his house was razed and his sewing machine confiscated by officials of the Lucknow Developmental Authority (LDA). Aziz is survived by his wife and six-month-old daughter.
The demolition in Akbar Nagar has been ongoing since December last year, targeting alleged illegal encroachments and leaving approximately 15,000 residents in distress. On October 13, under Section 27(1) of the Uttar Pradesh Urban Planning and Development Act, 1973, the LDA ordered the demolition of houses in Akbar Nagar I & II, areas predominantly inhabited by financially struggling families.
Aziz’s house was among those demolished. After losing their home, Aziz and his family were forced to live in a tent. To support his family, Aziz took up tailoring. However, on July 20, authorities seized his sewing machine, which he managed to reclaim only after allegedly paying a bribe of Rs 800.
Struggling to make ends meet, Aziz took his own life, leaving behind his grieving family.
The demolition order is part of the Gomti Riverfront Project, initiated by the Yogi Adityanath government in 2016, aiming to beautify the riverbed across the state capital. According to the National Green Tribunal norms, construction on riverbeds is prohibited, even for property owners, as it can obstruct rainwater flow and lead to flooding.
