5 More Arrested For Demolition Of Shops On ‘Encroached’ Land In Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: Five more people were arrested for their alleged involvement in the demolition of two shops constructed on encroached land in Nayapalli area of Odisha capital.

With this, the total number of people arrested in connection with the forcible demolition of shops on encroached land mounted to 14 on Wednesday. While seven people had been arrested in the case on March 30, two women were held later.

According to police sources, two businessmen had constructed their shops in a portion of land belonging to another person in the area under the jurisdiction of Nayapalli police station.

On the night of March 24, the accused reached the spot and demolished their shops with the help of bulldozer and other equipment, the traders alleged in a complaint filed at the police station.

The traders further claimed that there was a dispute over the piece of land regarding its ownership. It was alleged that land owner had hired the accused, all of whom work as bouncers in different places, to carry out the demolition.

The complainants further alleged that the bouncers had detained them forcibly when they opposed the demolition. They unleashed terror in the area while carrying out the demolition.

The police had registered a case and launched an investigation. The arrested persons have criminal antecedents, the sources added.