Youth attempts suicide over 'Ashraya'

Irked over the cancellation of allotment, a Ashraya House  beneficiary attempted to commit suicide in front of the office of Member of Parliament H Vishwanath, on the premises of Government Guest House here on Saturday.

The timely intervention of police, by snatching away the poison bottle from the youth, later identified as Vijayendra from Hebbal, averted what could have escalated further  the already charged issue.

Vijayendra was one among the hundreds of protesters who allegedly tried to barge into the MP’s office, opposing the decision of the Deputy Commissioner Harsh Gupta to cancel the allotmemts of 274 houses at Ramabai Nagar, during the latter’s inspection, in one go, on February 24.

The beneficiaries under the leadership of Association of Concerned and Informed Citizens of Mysore (ACICM) Convener M Lakshmana and Swamy Gowda, also a beneficiary, had converged at the  Guest House to demand the intervention of the MP.

After learning that the MP was in his chamber, some among the agitators tried to enter the same forcibly with a poison bottle, when Nazarbad police stopped them. The cops also succeeded in taking away the poison bottle. Vishwanath who had learnt about the severity of the issue by that time, held talks and promised to do his best. But, the protesters who seemed unconvinced pulled out another bottle of poison, following the call allegedly given by M Lakshmana. The cops who swung into action, took hold of that youth (Vijayendra) before dispersing the crowd.

A case has been registered against Vijayendra under section 309 (attempt to suicide) of IPC. M Lakshmana has been booked under section 114 of  IPC for provocating the youth.

At RC’s office

On the other hand, another section of beneficiaries staged a protest in front the office of Regional Commissioner on Hunsur Road.

Led by disqualified MLA from Chamaraja Assembly Constituency H S Shankarlingegowda under the banner of Chamaraja Constituency Ashraya Houses Beneficiaries Welfare Committee, the protesters alleged that the Deputy Commissioner Harsh Gupta took a hasty decision owing to real estate mafia.

Learning about their protest, the Regional Commissioner M V Jayanthi who was also present at the office at that time, summoned them to hear their grievances.

The protesters told the regional commissioner that the district administration unlocked all the 274 houses allotted at Ramabai Nagar for the residents of Chamaraja Assembly Constituency, on February 24. The houses had been left unoccupied due to some reasons. But, the deputy commissioner found a case in it, taking a decision on the spot to nullify the allotments, break open the locks to rehabilitate about 204 families that had been evacuated en masse at Bhim Nagar in an early morning drive on that day.

The families there had erected huts occupying seven to eight acres of land near ring road junction. Adding to their ownership claims, the protesters also showed the copies of title deed and other related documents, besides submitting memoranda addressed to regional commissioner and also Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa.

Report sought

When contacted the regional commissioner told Deccan Herald, she has forwarded a petition to the Chief Minister’s Office, besides another given to her, to the offices of deputy commissioner and MCC commissioner seeking report immediately, over the issue.

However, when queried, is  deputy commissioner vested with rights to cancel the allotments in one go?, the officer said that she could comment only after verifying the report that is awaited.

Corporators Rajeshwari Puttaswamy and Shanthakumari, Chamaraja Constituency Ashraya Houses Beneficiaries Welfare Committee Convener Paduvarahalli Ramakrishna and others participated in the protest.