Tempers run high as slum board officials try to evict squatters

Tension gripped Agrahara Dasarahalli, off Magadi Road, on Thursday when officials from the Karnataka Slum Board Development Board tried to evict 17 families staying illegally in houses built by the board. Out of the 30 houses developed by the board, 17 were illegally occupied.

The board had recently served notices on the families who were staying illegally as their names were not found on the list of beneficiaries. On Thursday, slum board officials and the local police arrived at the building to evict families that were staying illegally. Following a heated argument that lasted more than an hour, residents refused to vacate the houses and staged a sit-in. But the officials with the help of the police forcibly dragged them out.

Angered by the officials’ move, a woman attempted to immolate herself. When the police foiled the bid and dragged her out of the house, she again attempted to kill herself by consuming poison. The woman was rushed to a nearby hospital by the police and officials.

Residents alleged that the 17 families were being targeted by the BJP for supporting the Congress party in the last elections.

Sarojamma, one of the residents, said that all of them had applied to the slum board for a housing allotment. She alleged that officials had allotted houses to people who already owned homes. She said the officials didn't send them the notice 45 days in advanced, as mandated by the law. They were evicted on a day's notice, she claimed.