Sampangi initiates demolition of shop

Case booked against legislator as road-widening leads to tension in City

Robertsonpet police registered a case against legislator Y Sampangi on Monday, following the demolition of shops, for road widening work, without prior notice.

On Monday, at around 12.30 am, the awning of a textile shop at MG Circle was pulled down using an earth mover, under guidance of the legislator. The residents of the shopowner, who lived on the first floor of the building, were unaware of the happenings and came out in panic, on hearing the sound of the machines.

The driver of the earth mover, who turned panicky, left the machine and ran away. Sampangi too left the place.

However, news of the demolition spread around quickly, and hundreds of people started gathering around the shop. Former legislator M Bhaktavatsalam, Kolar Gold Fields Urban Development Authority former president Munirathnam Naidu, and several members of the City Municipal Council too came to the place and demanded an arrest of Sampangi.

“The legislator has taken up work that is under the purview of the PWD, and the demolition was underway in the middle of the night. Had there been any accident, the entire building could have collapsed, leading to further problems. The legislator has made way for so many problems, and should be immediately arrested,” the protesters argued with the police.

Later, in the daylight on Monday, the issue extended to road widening, with people both supporting and opposing the matter. The shopowners at MG Circle, however, expressed severe opposition to the clearance of buildings without prior notice for the widening.
“The case has not been cleared in court. It would therefore be an act of injustice to bring down the buildings outright,” they said, shouting slogans against the legislator.

Another group of shopowners gathered at MG Market and demanded closure of the market in opposition to the inhuman attitude of Sampangi. Sudden closure for the day, however, was objected to by some other shopowners in the area and the decision for a bandh was deferred till Tuesday.

The call, however, was withdrawn later in the day.

Supporters of road widening gathered at another end of the bus stand, demanding better roads, saying the current roads were in dangerous condition for the users. People who oppose the plan to widen and improve the roads should be dealt with legally, they demanded.

Superintendent of Police Dr Rohini Katoch, who met both the protesting groups, assured them legal action would be taken in the matter.

Police security was provided to MG Circle at Robertsonpet and the area behind the city bus stand in the backdrop of public tension.