Two Houses Demolished In Khurda Village On Kangaroo Court Order

Khurda: Police have begun investigation into the demolition of two houses by the order of a Kangaroo Court in Hatabaradi village under Chilika block in Odisha’s Khurda district.

Sources said Chhabi Behera had constructed a house in the village. However, claiming that she has constructed the 15 square feet house on government land, a group of people of the village asked her to cough up Rs 15,000 per square foot. When she expressed her inability to pay the amount, they conducted a Kangaroo Court in the village and later demolished the house with a bulldozer.

“I am unable to manage my family. From where will I get money to pay them? I have now taken shelter in the house of my kin,” said Chhabi Behera.

Another victim of the village, Purushottam Behera said his house too was demolished by these people . “Though I lodged a complaint with the Tangi police, they did not take any action,” he added.

The sources also said that these people had kidnapped husband and minor son of Parbati Behera of the same village.

“They asked us for Rs 5,500. When we couldn’t meet their demand,  they took away our fishing boat, net, a bike and kidnapped my husband and son. We had lodged a complaint in the Tangi Police Station and Kuhudi Police Station but to no avail,” Parbati told mediapersons.

Finding no alternative, the victims met Khurda Collector Nirmal Chandra Mishra on Saturday.

Talking to mediapersons, Additional SP, Khurda, Pramod Samantaray said action would be taken against the perpetrators if the incidents are found to be true.

“Police have registered a case with regards to demolition of two houses and another pertaining to kidnapping of a man and his son. The Balugaon SDPO has been asked to supervise the two cases. Action will be taken if there is veracity in the complaint,” Samantray added.