Illegal structures razed in Sec 29 amid protest

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 24

A joint team of the Estate Office and the Municipal Corporation demolished illegal constructions on government land by residents of Jammu and Kashmir Colony amid a protest on Tuesday.

Arjun Sharma, SDM (East), who supervised the drive, said residents had extended their houses by encroaching upon land. The structures were constructed by owners of 27 houses (house number 1001 to 1027).

The residents protested against the drive and tried to stop the drive, but the police controlled them. Two protesters suffered minor injuries during a scuffle with the police.

Basir Ahmed, a resident of the colony, said no time was given to them to take away their belongings. He said the police evicted the residents forcibly from the houses. A large number of residents raised slogans against the Administration and the local councillor after the drive. Women residents also alleged that the police forcibly evicted them from the houses.

The drive was carried out on the directions of the Deputy Commissioner after MC officials took up the matter with him. The drive started around 9.30 am and continued for over two hours.

A heavy police force was deployed at the site and two JCB machines were used for the demolition, besides a large number of labourers.

Amit Kesar, another resident, said the drive was carried out without giving any notice to them. The residents said the the Jammu and Kashmir Government had allotted the houses to laboures working in Chandigarh in 1984. A total of 60 houses were allotted to them.