BHOPAL: In an effort to break the back of hardened criminals, the Indore Police have started a demolition drive to raze properties built by listed goons on land owned by the government.
The drive, initiated 10 days ago at the behest of DIG Harinarayanchari Mishra, has so far seen joint teams of the men in khakhi and the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) armed with JCB machines raze at least 40 multi-storeyed buildings. These were constructed on public land worth around Rs 200 crore.
“It all began from the razing of a double-storeyed building in Chandan Nagar area, which investigations revealed were constructed out of daily proceeds generated through chain snatchings in different parts of the city. The public support emboldened the police to embark on an extensive drive against
more such properties,” Mishra said.
The most striking development in the ongoing drive came when the teams demolished two major illegal constructions existing on the land owned by the state police itself.
“The first list comprised properties of 50 criminals, of which 40 illegal constructions on public land, particularly on revenue department land have already been reduced to rubble. A fresh list of 50 more properties built by criminals by grabbing public and private land is being prepared which will go under the bulldozer in the coming weeks,” said Mishra.
In a city like Indore, where shady elements
have often thrived under patronage of political heavyweights, the proactive drive has drawn accolades. It now remains to be seen whether the drive is replicated in other parts of the state or not.