Panic gripped residents of Beleghata, many of whom have lived in the area for nearly a decade, after Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) demolition notices were pasted on the walls of their apartments on Tuesday. The affected properties were either promoted or owned by local strongman Raju Naskar.
On the same day, two more properties owned by TMC MLA Javed Khan received notices from the KMC buildings department, directing the owner to appear for a hearing at KMC headquarters. Four other Khan-owned properties had been served similar notices earlier.
According to the notices, residents were instructed to meet KMC officials within 48 hours and produce documents such as deeds and stamp papers. After a day-long hearing on Tuesday, residents were asked to return on Wednesday with additional paperwork. A buildings department official said that further documents were needed to determine whether relief could be provided to the actual beneficiaries.
Multiple buildings along Beleghata Main Road and East Kulia Road were served notices, triggering anxiety among flat owners who said they had invested their life savings in these homes. One resident said they bought their flat about 18 years ago from Naskar, who later emerged as a strongman in the locality and set up an office on the ground floor of a newer building next door. The resident said that at the time of purchase nothing appeared irregular and they were told the construction had been carried out with a valid building plan. They said they were stunned to find a demolition notice pasted on their wall.
Residents expressed fear and uncertainty about their future, as many had no alternative housing and had invested all their savings into these flats. The KMC has assured that it will examine all documents submitted by the residents before taking any final decision. Meanwhile, local leaders have urged the authorities to consider the plight of innocent buyers who may have been misled by the developers.
