Block road near CM�s residence against anti-encroachment drive
Jamshedpur: Hundreds of residents of Birsanagar rendered homeless during the recent anti-encroachment drive launched by the East Singhbhum district administration blocked the main road near CM�s residence in Agrico on Tuesday. They threatened to commit mass self-immolation with their children to protest demolition of their houses and demand rehabilitation.
More than 70 families became homeless after a team of district administration razed down houses built allegedly on government land earmarked for Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) scheme, said the protestors.
The protestors said they were forced to spend night on the streets with their children and aged family members.
In view of the protest programme, district administration beefed up security around CM�s residence. Protestors were stopped 200 metres away from the CM�s residence. SP City Prabhat Kumar led the police officials trying to pacify the protestors.
SDO Dhalbhum Chandan Kumar and SP City assured the protestors that the anti-encroachment drive would be stopped for 15 days. The road blockade was removed after a couple of hours. It was led by Jharkhand Vikas Morcha leader Abhay Singh, Congress leader Anand Bihari Dubey and AJSU Party leaders Kranti Singh and Appu Tiwary.
Sources said the district administration is planning to construct 32,000 PMAY housing units in Laltand village of Birsanagar. The 26 acre land earmarked for the project is being vacated for this purpose. A major portion of this land is encroached, sources said.