Residents staged a snap-protest and blocked Chikkatirupati-Bangalore National Highway on Wednesday after their huts were demolished by a private builder in Chikkatirupati.

The protesters were living on a government land measuring 30 guntas (survey no 168). But their huts were demolished as a boys hostel was proposed to come up.

However, when the residents opposed it, the taluk administration allowed the residents to build their huts on the adjacent land which was also acquired by the government.

This was accepted by the residents and were ready to relocate.

It is learnt that real estate agents Natarj and Muniraju from Dommasandra had purchased a land next to the government land - where the residents were about to relocate - and had encroached upon it.

This was brought to the notice of Tahsildar G V Nagaraj who in turn warned the private builders to vacate the land. But on Tuesday night, the builders demolished the huts with the help of a JCB.

Despite severe protest by the residents, the builders went ahead with their demolition drive.

Upset residents complained to the tahsildar on Wednesday and staged a protest on the national highway.

Tahsildar Nagaraj and Circle Inspector of Police Sampath Kumar visited the protesters and promised to submit a proposal to allow them to build their huts on the government land.

The protesters withdrew the protest after the builder Muniraju was arrested by the police.