Five under-construction houses on govt land razed

In a swift action, the District Administration, on Sunday, foiled an alleged bid to encroach upon government land at Sadanahalli, on the outskirts of the city. A posse of gangmen, along with earth movers, razed five houses under construction on government land, amid heavy police protection.

On Sunday, around 5.30 am, Deputy Commissioner C Shikha and Tahsildar Naveen Joseph, along with men and materials, went to the spot, and brought down the structures in an operation that lasted 45 minutes. As the drive was kept a secret, there was no sight of people at the said site.

Recently, the District Administration got wind of attempts to encroach upon the land (survey no 127) belonging to the Revenue department. A revenue inspector had been asked to vet into the issue and it was found that the shed-type houses were constructed using cement bricks and asbestos sheets and were almost at the stage of completion. The revenue inspector warned the people present at the site, especially the work supervisor, against going ahead with the construction works as it amounted to encroachment of government property. However, the work supervisor remained nonchalant, daring the officer to bring down the structure.

About 50 policemen attached to Metagalli station, led by Inspector Shekar, provided security till the drive was completed.