Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (SP)
Bantwal, Jul 18: The revenue officials, on Wednesday July 16, razed a thatched hut built by a poor couple here, alleging that they had built the hut in government land. This act came in for bitter criticism of several locals. The hut, belonging to Raghu Poojary and Soumya couple, is located at Kanjilakody in Maderigudde near Lorettopadavu here. The couple is very poor, and works for a firm in the town which rents out Shamiana and other paraphernalia.
The couple has been living in this hut since some time. Accusing the couple of encroaching government land, revenue inspector, Sadhu, and local village accountant, took steps to demolish this hut, it is alleged.
The hut was demolished when the couple was away on work. Raghu Poojary and his wife came to know of the incident only after they came home in the evening. Locals however, strongly supported the couple, and stood by them. A team of local youth reconstructed the demolished structure at the same place on Wednesday night.
The officials, who learnt about the above incident, visited the spot again on Thursday morning to raze the hut again, but the locals stopped them from doing so. They questioned the officials about their inaction with regard to several other illegal huts standing in the area, and why they were allowed to continue.
The team of officials, sensing trouble, went back after clicking some photographs of the re-built structure, it is gathered.