Demolition drive clears six encroached shops in Jamshedpur

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur, June 18: Acting on a court directive, a joint team of the Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee (JNAC), Jusco, and the police administration carried out an anti-encroachment drive near the Bhalubasa roundabout under Sitaramdera police station area on Thursday.
Six shops allegedly built on government land were demolished using bulldozers amid tight security arrangements.
The operation drew a large crowd and briefly created a tense atmosphere as some shopkeepers protested the action.
According to officials, the demolition was carried out in compliance with a court order issued following a petition filed in 2024 by local resident Ajay Nath. In his plea, Nath alleged that shops operating on encroached government land in front of his residence had been causing persistent inconvenience.
Following hearings in the matter, the court directed the authorities to remove the encroachments. Acting on the order, the JNAC, Jusco, and police teams reached the site on Thursday and demolished six structures one after another with the help of earthmovers.
The affected shopkeepers were identified as Ashish Kumar Sonkar, Hare Krishna Puthal, Manoj Kumar, Sanjay Kumar, Sheetal, and Aarti. Despite objections raised by some occupants, officials continued the drive, citing the court’s directive.
Authorities maintained that the action was undertaken strictly in accordance with judicial orders and reiterated that encroachments on government land would not be tolerated. They also indicated that similar drives would continue in the future wherever illegal occupation of public land is found.
However, affected shopkeeper Ashish Kumar Sonkar alleged that his family had been running a business at the location for nearly five decades. He claimed that no prior notice had been served before the demolition and accused JNAC of carrying out the action without giving shopkeepers an opportunity to respond.
Other affected traders echoed similar concerns, alleging that the demolition was conducted without notice, triggering resentment among local business owners.