Belthangady: Tense standoff at Kalenja as forest officials attempt house eviction despite minister’s instructions

Team Udayavani, Oct 9, 2023, 10:50 AM IST

Belthangady: Forest officials proceeded with the eviction of a partially constructed house in Amminadka, Kalenja village, disregarding instructions from a government minister.

MLA Harish Poonja, along with district MLAs Rajesh Naik, Bharat Shetty, Bhagirathi Murulya, and Umanath Kotyan, rushed to the scene in the morning, joined by MLC Pratap Simha Nayak.

A substantial contingent of police personnel, local residents, and members of the forest department converged on the location. Despite efforts by MLC Pratap Simha Nayak to halt the eviction, ACF Subbaiah Naik and Uppinangadi Zone Forest Officer Jayaprakash persisted, resulting in a tense atmosphere.

The incident is taking political undertones, with mounting pressure on forest officials to stall the eviction. Hundreds of people congregated at the site, voicing concerns about the potential displacement of underprivileged families. In response, the MLAs have called for a collaborative survey by the forest and revenue departments before any further action is taken.

The situation remains tense amidst conflicting directives and public sentiment.

Case details

The forest department had tried to dismantle the foundation of the under-construction house of Amminadka Kuddamane Sesa Gowda, residents of Kalenja village on October 6.  The forest department had asserted its actions were based on a ministerial directive. Later, a complaint was lodged against ten individuals, including family members and local residents, at the Dharmasthala police station.

MLA Harish Poonja promptly visited the location on October 7. In a bid to address the situation, he confronted the Forest Department officials responsible for the removal of the foundation. However, this encounter led to a heated verbal altercation between the Forest Department and the MLA.

In response to the situation, MLA Harish Poonja immediately contacted Forest Minister Ishwar Khandre.

Following the conversation with the Forest Minister, it was decided that the matter would not be pursued further at this time. Additionally, the officials were instructed to await further instructions from their superiors after conducting a joint survey with the Revenue Department.