Moodbidri, Mar 18: An Anganavadi assistant who was staying with her kid in a small house constructed on a government land at Moodukonaje Acharibettu in Shirthady Gram Panchayat limits was forcibly evicted by the revenue and police officials on Tuesday, March 18, morning.
The woman named Malathi Poojarti who was injured in the process has been admitted to the hospital. It is learnt, Malathi was thrown out of her house despite her repeated pleas to the authorities against evicting her.
Malathi who had availed a loan of Rs 15000 from the Dharmasthala Rural Development Scheme had constructed a small house of cement roofing on the land about a year ago. She had even applied for a door number last February with the Shirthady Gram Panchayat, which had even issued her a door number (6-66A). Moreover, Malathi had even paid the house tax for the year 2012-13 and 2013-14.
It is learnt, on March 16, Sunday, revenue officials who had visited her house had orally instructed her to vacate the house which they said was unauthorised. A worried Malathi had approached the Tahsildar on Monday and had appealed to him against evicting her.
However, when revenue officials arrived on Tuesday morning, Malathi resisted the eviction moves and protested along with her baby by holding God’s prasada in one hand and the stove on the other. Still, the women police personnel managed to get her out and all goods were seized.
It was heart wrenching to see the kid crying near its mother who had fainted on the ground. Locals who rushed to help were also prevented by the police.
It is learnt, Revenue Inspector Somashekhar, Moodukonaje Village Accountant Usha, Puttige Village Accountant Kishore and Marpadi VA Shanker were part of the raiding team.
Fear grips area: It is said, two police jeeps along with Circle Inspector Ananthapadmanabha, SI Ramesh Kumar and over 50 police personnel had arrived and no one was allowed to use the Acharibettu road.
Locals voice resentment: However, local residents are not happy with the way in which the poor woman was thrown out of her house particularly at a time when there were many who are residing in government lands, says Mahendra Mayilodi, social activist.
On coming to know about the incident, District BJP Vice President Umanath Kotian visited the hospital and enquired the health of Malathi. Later, speaking to reporters, he condemned the incident and demanded suspension of officials who resorted to such an inhuman act. KP Sucharitha Shetty, Babhubali Prasad, and other BJP leaders were present.
