8-year-old Ananya ran from the rubble clutching her books.
In 2021, a demolition drive in Uttar Pradesh’s Ambedkar Nagar left eight-year-old Ananya Yadav homeless. Her tiny home was one of many bulldozed by civic authorities, who claimed the land belonged to gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed. As flames rose nearby, Ananya ran—gripping her schoolbooks, her dream of becoming an IAS officer literally in her hands.
This week, her video resurfaced in the Supreme Court, prompting sharp criticism of the Prayagraj authorities. Calling the demolition “illegal” and “insensitive,” the court questioned why no proper notice was served.
“These cases shock our conscience,” said Justice Oka, slamming the UP government for violating due process. The court ordered ₹10 lakh compensation per case and allowed victims to build temporary shelters.
