Bantwal: Demolition Spree at Kalladka - 40 Shops Evicted
News and pics by Mouneesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (SP)
Bantwal, Jul 18: In a major eviction drive jointly undertaken by Golthamajal gram panchayat and the revenue department, over 40 shops located by the side of the road at Kalladka junction on Vittal cross, were razed to the ground on Friday July 18 morning.
The demolished structures included shops run by fruit vendors, vegetable vendors, poultry farms, fast food restaurants, flower stalls etc., Panchayat officials said that these shops were functioning by the roadside illegally, without possessing any valid permissions and that eviction notices had been served on them long back. Through the notices, the shop owners had been asked to vacate the shops on their own. As they did not do so even after a considerable period thereafter, there was no other way left than to evict these shops, they said.
Most of the merchants running these shops belong to a particular community. They formed a group and approached the demolition squad with a demand to also demolish a place of worship in the form of a small platform, located by the roadside, claiming that the said structure was an illegal one.
The drive went on smoothly as a large posse of policemen was present at the time of the drive. Puttur assistant superintendent of police Abhishek Goel, circle inspector Belliappa and other officials monitored law and order situation during the drive.