Bengaluru Demolition Drive: Pathankot Martyr's Home in List

Bengaluru: A part of martyred NSG commando Lt Col Niranjan Kumar's house is in the demolition list of Bengaluru civic authority as part of its ongoing anti-encroachment drive along lakebeds.

Authorities found a part of the house is built over a storm water drain at Doddabommassandra near Vidyaranyapura and have marked it for demolition.

"The BBMP officials have marked for demolition one of the three pillars on which my (late) son Lt Col Niranjan Kumar's house is standing," Kumar's father Shivarajan said.

Shivrajan said his wife Radha and another son (Shashank) have sought time from the BBMP to make their own arrangement "to remove the marked pillar."

Car of Lt Col Niranjan's brother in Bengaluru (Picture Credit: Shylaja Varma)

"My wife and son have sought time for removing one of the three pillars on which the house is standing. My family is bit worried about the BBMP officials using JCB (earth mover) to pull down the structure as it may cause considerable damage to the house itself," he said.

They said it was a shame this was happening to the family of a martyr.

"Six months ago, we lost him. Now we are in a bad state. Niranjan was a national hero and demolition of his house is a shame for the country. It’s okay if they give us time. If they give us time, we can build another pillar," brother EK Shanshank said.

Continuing its encroachment clearance drive, BBMP marked many more buildings for demolition in Vidyaranyapura apart from the properties it identified and marked at Yelahanka, Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Bommanahalli, Mahadevapura and Yeshwantpur.

Demolition drive underway in Bengaluru (Picture Credit: Shylaja Varma)

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has ordered criminal action against 20 officials who allowed illegal constructions along lake-beds in Bengaluru, while his government ruled out compensation for those who lost their homes in the demolition drive.

The CM also asked the Bengaluru Metropolitan Task Force (BMTF) to carry out drive across the city to demolish the buildings that have been constructed illegally .

He said orders were given for immediately suspending 13 officials while criminal action was ordered against seven others who had retired.

Across the city, hundreds of people have lost their homes in the demolition drive, and are yet to come to terms with the loss.