Days after Bharaiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Arvind Limbavalli tweeted a video of shantytowns in North Bengaluru’s Kariyammana Agrahara area, claiming that the settlements belong to illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) demolished at least 300 huts.
According to the reports, the body launched a massive demolition drive on Sunday, forcing at least 300 families of the make-shift tent houses in Kariyammana Agrahara and two other places in Bellandur out of homes onto streets. The electricity and water supply to the location was cut off three days ago.
After the demolition of the shanties, the residents, mostly migrants from Assam, Tripura, some even from North Karnataka, were allegedly asked to vacate the land. The evacuated people included those who had come to Bengaluru from flood-ravaged North Karnataka, in search of livelihood.
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Now, videos are being widely circulated on social media of residents in Bellandur’s Kariyammana Agrahara showing their identity cards to officers during eviction as they try to prove that they are Indians.
The residents alleged that not only were they not given any advance notice, but officials also ignored their fervent pleas and documents proving they were bonafide citizens of the country.
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The move comes at a time when people across India have been protesting against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC).
As of now, Special Commissioner for Mahadevapura BBMP – D Randeep – has reportedly asked the concerned officials including Joint Commissioner, to submit a detailed report in the matter.
