By Manish Sahu
A DAY after the Public Works Department (PWD) issued notices to 23 residents of Maharajganj village in Bahraich — where communal violence led to the murder of a 22-year-old man recently — asking them to remove illegal constructions within three days, people on Saturday started relocating their belongings to safer places.
The notice warned that failure to comply within the stipulated time would result in demolition of the illegal structures with the help of the administration and the police and the costs incurred would be recovered from the property owners.
After these notices were issued, Maharajganj, which had appeared deserted since the violence erupted on the evening of October 13, saw a flurry of activity as people started shifting their belongings.
Among those served with a notice is 62-year-old jeweller Abdul Hameed, who, along with his three sons and a neighbour, was arrested on Thursday in connection with the death of Ram Gopal Mishra, who was shot dead during the clashes on Sunday. Since Saturday morning, shopkeepers and house owners, who were served notices, have been relocating their goods and dismantling tin shades installed outside their shops and houses.
“Those who received notices have started removing items from their shops. Most have sent their goods to their nearby homes and are planning to temporarily run their businesses from there until the situation normalises,” said local resident Santosh Kumar Tiwari, whose younger brother, Saroj Kumar Tiwari, was injured in the clashes and is still undergoing treatment at a hospital.
This story was originally published in indianexpress.com.
