Residence demolished despite court orders, alleges 83-year-old woman

In Sirsa, an 83-year-old woman, Kishan Kaur, has alleged that her house was completely demolished by earthmoving machines, despite a court having imposed a status quo order on the property.

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Kaur, the widow of retired Assistant Malaria Officer Darshan Singh, claims the house was destroyed in an ongoing property dispute, alleging that a group of people were trying to take over her house.

According to her complaint, the incident occurred on the night of May 16, when she received a phone call informing her that a bulldozer and earthmoving machines were parked outside her house near the Shamshabad Patti Government Primary School on Kelnia Road.

By morning, her house was reduced to rubble, and valuables worth Rs 18 lakh — including air conditioners, furniture, silver utensils, kitchen items, and doors — were reportedly stolen.

Kishan Kaur, a retired lady health visitor (LHV), told the police that her husband had bought the house about 40 years ago.

The house has legal electricity and water connections, though it reportedly lacks formal registry papers — a central point in the ongoing legal battle. She said her husband passed away on 29 July, 2018, and, since then, she had been living alone.

Her son, Navraj Singh, lives in Australia, and her two daughters are married in Punjab. Due to her age and illness, she sometimes stays with her daughters.

Kaur claimed that her neighbours Preetpal Singh, Shamsher Singh, Satvinder Kaur and others were trying to take over her house.

They had broken in multiple times in the past, and even stolen items, she added.

A case was filed on 24 July, 2024, in this regard, but no police action was taken, she said. She added that, in February this year, a motor was stolen from her house.

Despite complaining to the Chief Minister and the Deputy Commissioner, the accused continued troubling her, she claimed, adding that the accused even removed a nameplate in her house.

She said the case was already in court, and a status quo order was in place, meaning no changes or damage to the property should have occurred.

Still, the house was allegedly demolished, in clear violation of the court’s directive.

The police have now registered a case against the accused, including Preetpal Singh, Shamsher Singh, Sukhdev Singh Bogan, Jaspal Singh Bogan, Balwinder Singh, Satwinder Kaur, JCB driver Maninder and property dealer Sunny Nagpal. An investigation is underway in this regard.