Family threatens suicide to thwart demolition

PUNE, May 7: Three members of a family on Thursday evening threatened suicide in a bid to stall the anti-encroachment drive during which about 200 illegal structures were pulled down by the PCNTDA in the Bhosari Electronic Zone. The trio was later arrested by the police.

In a dramatic event, Lala Jaywant Landge (40) and his son Rakesh threatened to jump off from the terrace of their two-storeyed house which was being targeted by the demolition squad of the PCNTDA. His younger son Rahul who was the first to be nabbed by the squad members injured himself with a rod lying nearby in the process. Interestingly, the squad members and the police continued all along to convince the three agitated members of the family who indulged in heated verbal altercation as the drama unfolded before a crowd which had gathered around. The drama continued for a prolonged four hours and finding them adamant on their stand, the district collector Vijay Kumar Gautam ordered the demolition team to go ahead with the demolition of their two-storeyed house.

Rakesh and his father refused to budge. The fire brigade personnel were pressed into service and they brought down Rakesh from the terrace. Lala Landge jumped off from a height of 30 ft. and fractured his leg. He was taken to the hospital and later arrested by the Bhosari police. Rahul and Rakesh received minor injuries in the scuffle. They were also arrested on Friday under charges of attempted suicide. PSI Balasaheb Shinde is conducting further investigations.