Mon Sep 22 12:51:03 UTC 2025: **News Article:**

**Shewa Koliwada Residents Allege Intimidation Amid Rehabilitation Dispute**

**Mumbai – September 22, 2025:** Residents of the Shewa Koliwada transit camp in Navi Mumbai are alleging intimidation by authorities, despite ongoing Bombay High Court directives for their timely rehabilitation. The residents, displaced since 1984 to make way for a port development, claim a recent show of force involving seven police vans and 100 officers was intended to discourage them from pursuing their case in court.

The incident occurred on September 18th during a meeting between villagers and district officials. Police maintain their presence was solely for the protection of the District Collector’s representative and to prevent potential disturbances.

For over 40 years, the Shewa Koliwada community has resided in temporary housing following the handover of their homes and lands for the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) project. Residents claim they were relocated to transit camps 12km away from their homes when the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust township project came up in the same year.

Ramesh Koli, president of the Shewa Koliwada Samajik Gramvikas Mandal, stated that the police deployment was an attempt to force them to withdraw their legal case. He also alleged that a similar situation occurred on May 9th where a large number of police were deployed, and they were forcing the residents to form an illegal gram panchayat.

Following the incident, the residents have written to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis demanding disciplinary action against the officials who authorized the police deployment. They have also requested transparency regarding the expenses incurred. A letter was also addressed to the Governor of Maharashtra, emphasizing their 43 years of peaceful protest and seeking accountability for alleged fraud, deceit, harassment, and conspiracy.

The Bombay High Court had previously directed JNPA to complete the rehabilitation process by December 2025. The court is scheduled to hear the case again on December 22nd.

Adding to the controversy, the residents have also issued legal notices to media outlets, including Saamana and Lokmat, and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, alleging misrepresentation of facts in their reporting on the rehabilitation progress. They are demanding retractions, apologies, and compensation for mental harassment, threatening legal action if their demands are not met.

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