D-market down

After several postponements and much dithering, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation8217;s collective hammer came down on the Dawood Ibrahim-backed Sara-Sahara complex on Saturday. Seven structures within the compound were demolished but the two main buildings were still left intact.

8216;8216;The notices for demolition were only given for these particular seven structures that are part of the complex. However, we do not have demolition orders for the main Sara and Sahara complexes as they are not illegal, but have internal irregularities,8217;8217; Ward officer 8216;A8217; Vijay Balamwar said. Around 300 BMC workers were present with all their might 8212; five JCBs, 1 bulldozer, 12 dumpers and other machinery8212; since 7.30 am. Their brief was to bring down 271 galas8212;Sara1 to Sara 78212;in what is officially known as the Moonim compound and has come up illegally on CPWD land reserved for 8216;8216;recreational purposes8217;8217;.

Joint Commissioner of Police Law and Order Arup Patnaik, who had conducted a risk analysis before the drive, put up a 300-strong force comprising personnel of the state police and Rapid Action Force. 8216;8216;We had the limited role of giving protection, which we will be doing till the demolition gets over,8217;8217; he said.