Rukmini Chinnathambi (47) claims to have suffered a cardiac arrest on December 31, 2010, when the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) demolished her hut at a slum in Vangasandra, Bommanahalli. She says the demolition crew did not relent even after she produced her voter ID and ration card. All her belongings were dumped on the street after her house was razed, and the shock of the sudden displacement caused her to suffer a heart attack later that night.
Led by the Karnataka Janandolana Sagathane (KJS), a group of people, rendered homeless on New Year's Eve, laid siege to the office of the Bangalore Urban District Deputy Commissioner here on Tuesday. They say 12 huts were demolished, and close to 40 families were rendered homeless by the demolition drive, including very young children.
KJS president K. Mariappa said residents of Survey number 44 at Vangasandra woke up to a rude shock when local BJP MLA Satish Reddy and Syed Salaam, husband of local BJP councillor Hasina Banu, arrived on the spot along with the demolition crew.
In his address to protesters, Mr. Mariappa said most of the razed houses belonged to members of the Dalit community.
KJS activists demanded that the eviction in Vangasandra be brought to an immediate halt.
