Rajkot Launches Major Demolition Drive: Illegal Properties Of 38 Notorious Accused Razed 

Rajkot: In a sweeping action aimed at curbing crime, Rajkot police, backed by local municipal and PGVCL officials, demolished 55 illegal structures belonging to 38 repeat offenders early Monday morning. The demolition drive, part of a statewide initiative to reclaim encroached land and disrupt criminal networks, targeted properties valued at over ₹6.5 crore.

The operation began at dawn in the Raiyadhar-Parshuram Tekri area, a developing zone under the Smart City project. The area has long been plagued by unlawful encroachments, many linked to individuals with extensive criminal histories, including bootlegging, kidnapping, assault, rioting, vehicle theft, and other serious offenses.

The crackdown follows direct orders from Gujarat’s Home Department, which recently instructed police forces across the state to act decisively against habitual offenders by demolishing their illegally constructed properties and severing unauthorized utility connections.

According to Jagdish Bangarva, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 2), today’s action was part of a larger effort to dismantle the influence of known criminals in Rajkot. “We’ve identified individuals with multiple cases against them, some with over 10 charges including murder, attempted murder, robbery, and violent assault,” he said. “This is not just about demolishing buildings; it’s about breaking the backbone of criminal operations.”

The police, accompanied by Rajkot Municipal Corporation and PGVCL teams, launched the demolition at 7 a.m. More than 2,600 square meters of illegally occupied land were cleared within hours. The joint operation was carried out with precision to avoid disruption to the surrounding community.

This is not the first time the authorities have taken such steps. Just last Friday, a similar action was carried out at the residence of Ajay Mansingh Parsonda, a repeat offender from Popatpara, whose house was razed as part of the same crackdown. Parsonda faces several serious criminal charges, including abduction and rioting. Authorities have stated that more such operations are planned in the coming weeks as they continue identifying and acting against individuals and properties linked to crime.