Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Jan 19: The local Lokayukta police superintendent has informed that the state Lokayukta has taken suo moto action in connection with the eviction of six Malekudiya community families from their houses in Naidaguri, Sulkeri village, in Beltangady taluk. Lokayukta Justice N Santosh Hegde has directed the local officials to visit the spot, conduct investigation, and a send a report thereof, it is learnt. It is gathered that he has also sought a report from the deputy commissioner of Dakshina Kannada district, who in turn, has already sought a report on the eviction drive from Beltangady tahsildar, MK Pramila.

The BJP leaders have claimed that the drive was politically motivated, and executed as per the instructions of the local MLA. The notice issued by the deputy commissioner, which is based on a report filed by Puttur assistant commissioner, seeks explanation on the above allegation, and also whether police force was used to drive the families away, and whether money was stolen from the houses of victims, as alleged. The assistant commissioner and deputy commissioner are also unhappy that they were not informed of the demolition drive in advance.

The families, which reportedly relocated from their abodes inside Kudremukh National Park at the advice of the former deputy commissioner, have been spending their days and nights in the open, as their houses have been demolished. The district administration has been looking into the possibility of sanctioning alternative sites to the families, as it is found not feasible to allow them to live in the government land where they have been staying since the last six months. It is also examining as to whether large rubber plantations and other structures that have come up in government land around the site in question, are allowed to go unscathed by the government officials, as stated by the victims.