Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Mar 12: Gregory Patrao from Kalavaru here had made headlines all over the state after he stood his ground and stoutly protested against the action of the officials who came with the backing of police personnel, razed his house and other things. Although Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) had said that his land had been acquired for the special economic zone, Gregory had carried on the battle singularly.
His defiant stance, strong protest, and stout resolve had attracted a number of leaders and spiritual heads of institutions, who had visited him and offered him support and solace. He had stood his ground, built a temporary shed, and continued to live there.
Gregory had carried on battle through the high court all these five years. The state high court (HC) recently ruled in favour of Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL), which was allotted this land for expansion programme. On Wednesday March 11, officials led by KIADB special deputy commissioner, Dase Gowda, evicted Gregory and his family from their land at Kalavaru.
Dase Gowda told media persons that as per the HC order, 14.27 acres of land has been given to MRPL, and the compensation towards the property has already been credited to the bank account of the concerned.
Gregory happens to be the BJP-supported member of Bala gram panchayat. However, when the officials along with police force came to acquire his land, he did not seem to be having anyone's support, eyewitnesses said. Gregory also did not offer resistance to the acquisition this time. Moreover, he had on a previous occasion agreed to vacate the land for KIADB but the court case had continued.
From Daijiworld Archives: