Bangala tribesmen go into hiding

ROOPNAGAR, JULY 13: Fearing arrests, all the male members of the Bangala nomadic tribe who had pelted stones at the police party during a...

ROOPNAGAR, JULY 13: Fearing arrests, all the male members of the Bangala nomadic tribe who had pelted stones at the police party during an anti-encroachment drive at the Sadavart locality here on Saturday, have gone into hiding.

While at least eight of them have already been rounded up, many others have deserted their homes leaving behind their womenfolk and children. Trouble arose when the municipal authorities, accompanied by a police party, swooped on the colony of the Bangalas, who are primarily rag-pickers, to remove encroachments. Irked by the demolition drive, the tribesmen pelted stones at the police party, injuring six. Several Municipal Council employees were also injured in the incident. Women at the Basti allege that a policeman had resorted to unprovoked firing from the Sadar police station which is behind the colony — a charge that has been vehemently denied by Station House Officer Ravinderpal Singh. He, however, said a case was registered against the colony residents for obstructing a public servant from discharging official duty.

Contesting the police claim, women at the Basti also accused the cops of detaining several women in the process. Agitated colony residents allege they were compelled to rain stones as the Municipal Council had not served them a prior notice.

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Besides, the colony cannot be termed unauthorised’ as a motorable road connects it with the Anandpur-Roopnagar Highway. The road, according to them, was laid by the district administration in early 50s. To substantiate their claim, the residents also showed electricity bills and a water tap in the locality.

Even as the Municipal Council officials are firm on their views terming the colony an encroachment Ward 14 councillor Gurmeet Singh lamented that the demolition drive was illegal. He said no resolution to this effect was ever moved or accepted in any of the council meetings. Himself a Congress candidate, Gurmeet Singh charged that the whole exercise was aimed at discrediting him in his own ward by the BJP-dominated Municipal Council.

Earlier in the day, former Anandpur Sahib MLA Ramesh Dutt Sharma visited the colony. Terming the demolition drive as high handedness’ of the ruling BJP, he said: “The colony residents were forced to resort to stone pelting, as they were caught unawares by a hostile police party.”

While both the Municipal Council president and the executive officers were away to Chandigarh, senior officials claimed they had personally asked the colony residents to vacate the land and that the occupants were given sufficient time.