30 shops razed in eviction drive on Mysuru Road

As many as 30 shops and shanties on Mysuru Road near Nayandahalli were razed to the ground on Tuesday, in an eviction drive by the Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force and the Karnataka Slum Development Board (KSDB).

The operation, which began early in the morning, faced strong protest by shopkeepers and slum dwellers. Their protests did not deter the police and the KSDB officials, who went ahead with the drive. By the afternoon the entire area was cleared of encroachments.

Sources in the BMTF said the one-acre land, which some people had occupied for the last 30 years, belongs to the KSDB. The encroachers had built shops and rented them out for Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000. Despite several notices, the occupants did not vacate the land, compelling the KSDB to issue a final notice recently which was followed by the eviction drive on Tuesday.

Sources said a garage, a real estate agency, construction material shop, tailor shop and grocery store were among the shops that were razed.