'They stopped because we threatened to kill ourselves

Residents ready with kerosene stall Nice road-widening work, say they weren't given notice

Around 200 residents holding cans of kerosene and threatening to commit suicide managed to stop the widening of a portion of NICE Road yesterday.

Residents of the Bagegowda Layout, spread on either sides of the BMIC stretch near PESIT, claim that Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprise (NICE) started widening the road without any notice.

"We were shocked when they started demolishing our houses," said Rashmi D'Souza, a resident. "We have been living here for years. How can they do it?"

Her views were echoed by Venkatesh, another resident. "We were shocked. They came to demolish our houses with no prior communication."

Standoff
It all started when NICE staff, armed with four JCB vehicles or bulldozes, and 10 lorries started evacuating residents from their houses on Tuesday morning.

Residents say they weren't even given an explanation and NICE staff started demolishing the houses. Besides, "they had no permission letter or an order to do so," added D'Souza. "They were doing everything orally, which is unacceptable."

Residents protested by tying their cattle to bulldozers that were to demolish their houses. And around 200 residents threatened to immolate themselves.

"We threatened officials, saying we'd kill ourselves if the demolition wasn't stopped," said Venkatesh. "They stopped because of this."

Residents said they were owners of the site and there was no government notification to acquire their land. Tax payment proof, telephone bills and electricity bills supported the fact.u00a0u00a0

u00a0The protest came a day after the High Court transferred a case pertaining to former prime minister H.D.Deve Gowda's letter on misappropriations.