Chandanpukar market demolition, follows protest

Barrackpore, Dec 29 (UNI) Despite heavy resistance from the local businessmen the civic authorities today demolished a 60-year-old Nona Chandanpukur market in North 24 Paraganas.

A police and Rapid Action Force were deployed to demolish the market, which was one of the oldest places of commercial activities.

Several vendors, including a teenager, was injured while protesting against the demolition.

The Bazar Byabsa Banchao Committee (BBBC) members were driven away by the police as they were protesting the move.

Three people were taken into custody, police officials said.

Municipal authorities had planned to transform the place into a multipurpose market-cum-housing complex providing space for only 250 vendors in the underground basement, official sources said.

Chairman Bijali Kanti Mitra said the construction work for this rupees six crore project would begin from today.

The agitating BBBC members and a few shop owners had earlier moved the court while five old shop owners obtained stay orders to refrain the civic authorities from demolishing their shops.

''Yet, two of the five shops were demolished using bulldozer, a BBBC member alleged.

Barrackpore Sub-Divisional Officer Jyotishman Chakrabarty, admitted the fact that two of the five shops were demolished inadvertently where court had issued stay orders.

''We will reconstruct the shops immediately,'' Mr Chakraborty said.

Traffic was disrupted for two hours near Barrackpore-Barasat road due to the agitation.

UNI XC PP KR KN1847