Following a High Court of Karnataka order, 52 houses that were built illegally on another person’s property were demolished at Bengeri in Hubballi on Monday.
The demolition was carried out under police protection after the owner of the property moved a contempt petition against the Commissioner of Police for failing to provide adequate security for carrying out the demolition. The land in question belonged to Mohan Mankani. However, a former Councillor allegedly had sold the land illegally to several persons, who built their houses on it.
Subsequently, Mr. Mankani had approached the Court which had given its verdict in his favour a few months ago and had ordered the Police Department to provide adequate security for clearing the area by demolishing the houses.
However, the drive could not be carried out completely as the police had expressed its inability to provide security citing various reasons. The petitioner then had moved a contempt petition against the police.
Following the contempt petition, the Court had ordered for issue of notice to the department. Consequently, fearing contempt proceedings, the department provided heavy bandobast on Monday to allow the owner of the land to carry out the demolition to recover his land.
Despite knowing that the Court had ruled against them, several people were still residing in the same houses and they were seen trying to salvage their goods as the demolition began.
Some of them even tried to seek help from elected representatives. However they were told that they could do nothing against the Court order.