Post News Network
Konark: At least 25 supporters of self-styled godman Bana Baba were arrested Friday after they clashed with policemen protesting demolition of Kalki ashram under Kurujang gram panchayat.
The district administration and forest department began a fresh demolition drive at 10am. A Kali temple and a havan kund on the premises were demolished by noon.
The demolition drive, however, faced stiff resistance as hundreds of supporters of the godman, including women, staged a dharna and clashed with the police. At least 25 followers including women were arrested for indulging in clashes with the policemen.
According to sources, Banambara Moharana alias Bana Baba had built the ashram on a 19-acre forest land. Following complaints of the residents, the district collector had declared the land illegal and handed it over to Konark forest division. The ashram was evicted September 5, 2015.
The forest department had set up a section office there. However, Bana Baba supporters trespassed into the office and attacked the forest officials forcing them to vacate the place. The godman’s disciples reoccupied the ashram May 13.
On the complaints of forest officials, the divisional forest officer (DFO) urged the collector to intervene in the matter. The collector then directed sub-collector Madhusudan Das to probe the matter and submit a report. Das visited the ashram June 2 and submitted the report on the basis of which the ashram was demolished.
The sub-collector along with two additional SPs, four DSPs, 20 police officials, Kakatpur tehsildar Prachi Mohapatra, additional tehsildar Akshay Kumar Patnaik and 11 platoons of police reached the ashram and began the eviction.
Although the forest department had declared imposition of section 144 on the area prior to the demolitions, the godman’s disciples opposed the eviction.
“The demolition of the ashram built on forest and revenue department land has begun. It will be completed in five days,” said additional tehsildar Patnaik.
DFO Chittaranjan Mishra said 500 foresters and guards and other officials were deployed in the area as a preventive measure against escalation of tension.
