The People’s Union of Civil Liberties has termed as illegal the recent demolition of about 250 houses in the town of Neem ka Thana in Rajasthan’s Sikar district, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party government of taking “repressive action” to facilitate the construction of a road.
The rights organisation has demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident.
The demolition drive took place on June 5 despite the construction of the bypass road not being in accordance with the Neem Ka Thana master plan for 2013-31, a fact-finding team set up by PUCL said here on Wednesday. Moreover, the Municipal Council, which carried out the drive with help from the district administration, allegedly issued the public notice the day after the demolition was carried out and the notice was published in local newspapers only on June 7.
“In fact, the so-called bypass passes through the middle of the town. It will be used by 600 to 1,000 trucks carrying stones, sand and construction material everyday,” said PUCL general secretary Anant Bhatnangar.
Mr. Bhatnagar, who led the team, said the town’s residents were already facing difficulties because of heavy traffic coming in from the nearby villages.
The PUCL team alleged that policemen accompanying the demolition squad misbehaved with women and abused local residents. Families rendered homeless have not been rehabilitated and even the Sulabh toilets located nearby reportedly charged exorbitant amounts for services.
Chief Secretary C.S. Rajan expressed ignorance about the incident when the fact-finding team met him last week.
Apart from a judicial inquiry, the PUCL has also demanded that status quo be restored in the town and affected families be immediately paid compensation in addition to being given places to stay for the time being.
A State government spokesperson, however, told The Hindu that since the issue involved construction of a highway, the government was required to take action in order to get the land vacated. “Any issue of compensation to the ousted families will be dealt with by the National Highways Authority of India,” he said.
The PUCL also demanded that criminal cases be filed againstpolicemen and government officials who allegedly indulged in excesses.
