Protest against alleged move to shift them to JNNURM houses on the outskirts of the city
Hundreds of slum-dwellers laid siege to the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation's meeting hall on Monday leading to a fierce tussle between them and police in evicting them forcibly. The siege was to protest against the alleged move to shift them to JNNURM houses on the outskirts of the city and demanding that they be allowed to stay where they are living now.
The protestors, a majority of them women, stiffly resisted the police attempts to remove them from the entrance of the meeting hall which they had occupied. Police used force at various stages to remove them.
Some of the corporators were inside the meeting hall for the crucial budget meeting even as others could not get in. One of the corporators, Senapati Vasanta, was abused and insulted by the protestors alleging that she was responsible for their plight at Ambedkarnagar. Police were caught unawares with the large number of protestors entering in small groups and pitching themselves at the entry to the meeting hall. POW Vice-President M. Lakshmi was among those who were arrested by the police.
Besides the Three Town police, IV town inspector PM Naidu, ACP Achyuta Rao and DCP Balakrishna also rushed to the spot. Plainclothes policemen and riot police were also rushed to rein in the protestors so that the budget meeting could start.
As protestors pushed and jostled, they were forcibly and bodily removed from one of the entries to the varandah of the hall. Others clung to the metal mesh that was at another entry point shouting slogans against the police. As police tried to remove them, the protestors grappled with, pushed and abused them. Some protestors who fanned out into the corridor leading to the meeting hall pulled down the false ceiling. With reinforcements coming in they were also bodily lifted clearing the corridors. Residents of seven slums were involved in laying siege to the GVMC.
In the melee, a woman constable Sita's leg was fractured, police said.
The protestors later gathered at the portico before the main entrance raising slogans. They were pushed back and bundled into the police vans. Three Town Circle Inspector Mr. Lakshmana Murthy said around 90 protestors were arrested.
Dalita Vimukti, Murikivadala Nivasula Samkshema Sangham, Progressive Organisation for Women and IFTU are spearheading the agitation of the slum-dwellers. The budget meeting started later.
‘UNFORTUNATE'
Meanwhile, the GVMC meeting passed a resolution terming the laying of siege by slum-dwellers to the meeting venue as unfortunate and undemocratic.
A severe punishment should be handed down to those who acted in an indecent manner.
Reading out the resolution, Mayor Pulusu Janardhana Rao said those instigating the slum-dwellers also should be punished strictly and action taken against the police officers also.
Replying to the members, Commissioner B. Ramanjaneyulu said it was unfortunate to state that residents of 741 slums were agitated.
It was known to members that 352 slums would be developed in situ. Of the remaining, only 20 to 22 slums were on objectionable land. Of the 72 families living at Indiranagar, that seemed to have sparked the protest, 48 received Rs.73,000 each and Rs.5,000 towards other expenses.
He said police had failed to provide enough security to the budget meeting in spite of a requisition.
A complaint would be made to the Commissioner and a copy of it would be sent to the Home Secretary.
He said four or five persons who were “anti-social forces” were targeting him for removing encroachments, clearing widening roads.
However, CPI(M) floor leader Botta Eswaramma objected, wondering what was wrong in slum-dwellers demanding their rights.
