In a significant development following a major demolition drive in North Bengaluru, the Yelahanka police have registered a case against four individuals accused of illegally renting out government land to impoverished families. The action comes after civic authorities cleared approximately 160 unauthorised sheds from a parcel of land acquired for a crucial waste management project.
The Core Complaint and Police Action
The case was initiated based on a formal complaint filed by the Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Limited (BSWML). The agency reported that four agents had been profiteering by collecting rent from dwellers who occupied temporary tin sheds on encroached land. The police have identified the accused as Vijay, Wasim Ulla Baig, Muni Anjinappa, and Robin.
The land in question, measuring 14.36 acres in Kogilu village, was officially acquired and handed over to BSWML. It was specifically earmarked for the construction of a biomethane generation unit and other waste segregation facilities. While tenders for these projects were floated back in 2023, the start of construction was hampered by the discovery of extensive illegal occupation.
Demolition Drive and Uncovered Illegal Rentals
On December 20, officials from the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and other departments moved in to clear the encroachment. The operation led to the demolition of around 160 illegal tin sheds that had been built across roughly four acres of the designated project land.
It was during this eviction process that the modus operandi of the accused agents came to light. Investigations revealed that these individuals had illegally rented out the government land to migrant workers and other poor families, collecting monthly payments from them. Following the BSWML complaint, the Yelahanka police registered a case under relevant sections of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act and have launched a probe.
Political Protests and a Separate FIR
The demolition drive, which began in earnest on December 21, rendered over 150 families homeless. These families, comprising mostly daily-wage migrant labourers, were forced to take shelter near a government school playground. They alleged that they were not given adequate time to retrieve their belongings before being evicted.
The incident has also sparked political reactions and protests. Karnataka BJP President B Y Vijayendra and other opposition leaders staged a demonstration under the slogan 'Save Kogilu, Remove Illegal Immigrants', criticising the state government's handling of the situation.
In a related but separate suo motu case, the Yelahanka police have booked five Dalit leaders for staging a protest against the demolitions. The FIR names Gowramma, Manohar, Mariyappa, and Isak, among others, for allegedly disobeying public servant orders under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhitha (BNS). They had protested on January 4, demanding proper rehabilitation for the displaced families.
The twin police cases highlight the complex socio-legal aftermath of urban encroachment removal drives, where the punishment of alleged middlemen and protesters unfolds alongside the humanitarian crisis of displacement.
