Over 4,500 families in the Indian city of Haldwani, Uttarakhand, have been served notices by the High Court to vacate their homes, which the court has deemed to be built on encroached land.

The residents, who have been protesting the eviction, claim that they have lived in the area for decades and that demolishing their homes would leave them homeless and impact many women, children, and older people.

The High Court has ordered the demolition of 4,365 buildings on 78 acres of railway land and the eviction of the “unauthorized occupants.”

The eviction is set to cost 23 crores and will be carried out with the assistance of 7,000 police officers and 15 paramilitary groups.

Political parties and community leaders have expressed support for the protesting residents.