Bhubaneswar: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) demolished several unauthorised constructions, including some erected by notorious ‘bouncer gang’ leader Raghav Jena on government land in Jharpada area on Wednesday.
The enforcement squad of BMC with the help of police personnel demolished over 40 illegal structures including shops and houses in Jharpada area of Odisha capital, sources said.
Raghav is said to be the prime accused in the vandalism incident in Nayapalli area in the city.
However, several women in the area broke down after the eviction drive and claimed that the houses in which they lived did not belong to Raghav. Stating that they have become shelterless, they claimed that no eviction notice was served before the drive.
Officials said the police had intimated about the eviction last evening and the BMC squad launched the demolition drive in the morning today.
A senior police official said around 10 platoons of force (each platoon comprising around 33 personnel) have been deployed for undertaking the demolition drive. Unauthorised structures are being demolished for some road construction work, he said.
It is alleged that Raghav had encroached upon government land in the state capital and constructed housed there illegally. The houses were rented out to families and shopkeepers.
A BMC official said Raghav has encroached over one acre of government land. We have razed 30-40 houses so far. He had rented the houses built over the government land for residential and business purposes,” said a BMC official.
It may be noted here that the police had busted the notorious ‘bouncer gang’ which was allegedly involved in taking forcible possession of disputed land in the state capital. While Raghav is reported to be at large and efforts are on to nab him, several members of the gang have been arrested for ransacking some shops in Nayapalli area, the sources added.
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