It was burnt to the ground twice before – once in 2011 and then in 2016. Volunteers – from NGOs, and good samaritans – who have been helping them say they have been warned about “bringing too much attention” to the slum. The fear of being branded Bangladeshi and harassed has overpowered everything else. Until 2016, the residents of the Bengali Basti used to pay rent to “landlords” who lived in Rithala village. Residents say that this had angered these villagers and they had earlier threatened to burn the slum down.

Source: The Telegraph December 31, 2025 06:55 UTC