Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, March 7: The Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) Saturday began demolition of Bajrangbali Sevashram, even as locals resisted the demolition even pelting stones at police officials and blocking the road leading to the mutt by setting tyres on fire.
However, the demolition was carried out with the support of the two platoons of police personnel deployed in the area under the supervision of the additional DCP.
The BDA criticised Raghunath Das, the owner of the mutt, for not vacating the encroached land even after his appeal of not demolishing the mutt was rejected by Orissa High Court January 22, 2015.
“Under the Orissa Development Authorities Act, 1982 (ODA Act), BDA had given Das one month to vacate the land. It is more than a month-and-a-half since then,” said Deba Prasad Das, the enforcement officer of BDA.
Raghunath Das, however, said he had approached BDA for more time.
“We have appealed against the BDA order in the High Court. This temple is not mine. It belongs to the people of 10 villages. As this is a public property, every villager will raise his voice against its demolition. If the BDA goes ahead with the demolition, I shall lie down in front of the bulldozers and they will have to run over me to demolish the mutt,” said Das.
Khandagiri police said no one was detained for protesting against the demolition of the mutt.
