Wheelchair cricketers, residents protest against eviction from Cheshire Home
Members of the local wheelchair cricket team and residents living in the Cheshire Home, Sector 21, organised a protest over eviction from the premises by the UT administration officials.
The Department of Social Welfare had gotten the Cheshire Home in Sector 21 vacated from unauthorised occupants with the aim to ensure that the property is used for the welfare and rehabilitation of marginalised sections of society.
The protesters were joined by members of an NGO. The evicted occupants and wheelchair cricketers had been residing at the Sector 21 house for an extended period.
Sharmita Bhinder, an NGO member, said, “The eviction was a deliberate attempt by the UT administration, as the wheelchair cricket team was in Gwalior. Without prior notice, they arrived with the police and threw out the occupants’ belongings.”
Pooja, a resident, was taken to Sector 15, while the others were assisted by NGOs and good samaritans, eventually finding shelter within the city.
Veer Singh Sandhu, captain of the wheelchair cricket team, who has just returned to the city after the team won the 4th National Wheelchair Cricket Tournament, said, “The eviction was done in our absence.” —TNS
