Bulldozers roll into Burnpur, Nandigram to clear alleged encroachments

Burnpur/Nandigram: Bulldozers rolled in at Burnpur in West Burdwan district and Nandigram in East Midnapore on Tuesday, as authorities removed alleged encroachments.In Burnpur, the management of SAIL's IISCO Steel Plant (ISP) used bulldozers to flatten two unauthorised Trinamool Congress party offices. According to an ISP spokesperson, the action was taken to remove unauthorised structures and recover encroached land belonging to the plant. One of the demolished structures was located inside the AB Type Gurudwara Employees' Residential Complex, while the other was situated near the Narsingh Bandh area.The spokesperson said around 1,500 square feet of encroached land was cleared and brought back under the possession of the plant management. The management also stated that notices were served following legal procedures before the demolition drive.In Nandigram, four alleged illegal structures were demolished in the Jalpai area of Boyal 2 village panchayat following a Calcutta High Court order. The move left four families, who claimed to have lived there for 30 to 35 years, homeless. The demolition took place in the presence of various administrative officials.Sheikh Nazrul Islam, who was evicted, said he was unsure where he would spend the night. He said an officer from Nandigram police station verbally informed them on Monday afternoon about the demolition drive without any prior notice.An official from the Irrigation Department maintained that the land on which the families built their homes belonged to the state. The official added that despite repeated notices, the families did not relocate, and the houses were demolished as per the High Court directive.