Mumbra observes bandh over demolition drive

Thane, Apr 12: The

township in the district, which saw the death of 74 people after an illegal building came down crashing last week, today observed a bandh to protest the ongoing demolition drive and demand rehabilitation of those affected.

Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) launched a demolition drive against unauthorised structures in the aftermath of the April 4 tragedy, for which over a dozen persons, including civic officials, have been arrested.

Residents are demanding rehabilitation of those living in such buildings before they are razed. According to locals, people have been residing in these buildings since several years believing they were legal. Now demolition will render them homeless.

The bandh, called by local units of NCP and Samajwadi Party, was peaceful and no untoward incident was reported from the minority-dominated town, a distant suburb of Mumbai, police said.

Auto-rickshaws were off the roads and shops and business establishments downed shutters. Police presence in the area was increased to maintain law and order. Civic authorities had reportedly suspended the demolition drive today.

Meanwhile, local MLA Jitendra Awhad of NCP, addressing a gathering in Mumbra, said he was unfairly being targeted after every mishap in his constituency.

PTI