Karnataka: Mild lathicharge in Raichur as civic officials evict illegal residential plot encroachers

RAICHUR: Tension prevailed in Raichur after municipal officials razed houses built on illegally encroached plots at old Ashraya colony in the outskirts of the city. The police had to resort to mild lathicharge to disperse the occupants who were protesting against the eviction.
The plots were allotted several years back to the beneficiaries by the Raichur City Municipal Council (RCMC).Later it was found that some houses were not built by original beneficiaries but by encroachers. Following a complaint on the same the deputy commissioner (DC) ordered eviction. The Ashraya colony is located near Chandrabanda road and the survey number of the plot is 570/572. According to the CMC about 70 houses are illegally built.
The CMC officials arrived at the colony in the morning hours along with full police security managed by DySP. The CMC had sent a few JCBs (earth movers) to the spot to raze the illegal houses and evict the residents. The residents who came out of the houses claimed that the CMC had not issued any prior eviction notice and hence the occupants would not allow any razing.
Following resistance by residents. a huge war of words broke out between officials and occupants, even as the district president of Trade Union Centre of India came in support of residents. As the situation escalated the police resorted to mild lathicharge to disburse the people. The officials then directed the JCB operators to flatten the tin shed houses. The earth movers razed about 8 residences, while Congress leader Ravi Bosraju interfered and halted the operation. Now the operation is temporarily stopped and would continue anytime soon.
Raichur DC R Venkatesh Kumar talking to ToI said some residents living in the Ashraya colony have illegally encroached the plots and hence order was issued for eviction. If these illegal occupants are landless or homeless then they have to file an affidavit with CMC that they are landless and then CMC may consider allocating them the house. However no such affidavits are filed. He said security has been beefed up in the area to thwart any untoward incidents.