Slum dwellers on hunger strike in Kolkata

Kolkata, April 11 (IANS) A group of slum dwellers of east Kolkata's Nonadanga area, whose shanties were razed by civic officials Wednesday went on a hunger strike demanding the government rehabilitate them.

The strike was launched by a group of 60 people including women under the banner of Ucched Pratibad Committee (Eviction Protest Committee).

Several people were injured when slum dwellers evicted from their homes blocked a road and clashed with the police last week.

Television grabs showed that police resorted to indiscriminate lathi-charge to lift the agitation and even pregnant women were not spared.

"We are staging our protest. We want rehabilitation," said Malabika Das, a mother of two, who claims that she has been living in Nonadanga slum for three years.