Unruly masses foil Ctg admin’s bid to remove people from hill pockets

CHATTOGRAM, Apr 11: An attempt by the local district administration to remove illegal holdings in the hill pockets on the city hills was foiled by the residents living there with risk of life.

A team headed by Additional Deputy Commissioner (revenue) of Chattogram Md Delwar Hossain and Assistant Commissioner (Land), Chandgaon Circle Sabbir Rahman in the city conducted an eviction drive on Wednesday morning at the Matijharna area under Lalkhan Bazar ward.

They evicted a few houses built illegally and rented by a number of influential people and snapped power connections to a few other makeshift houses initially.

The eviction was launched following a meeting of the high-ups in the district administration to evacuate the people from hill pockets as the rainy season nears.

Hill collapse claimed lives of many during the last few rainy seasons as the hills are being cut off indiscriminately causing the collapses after rain.

Within half an hour, several hundred people with the female members in the front gathered at the area and resorted to altercation with the female police members and attempted to attack the police.

The people said they have been residing on the hills after hiring the houses from some people who constructed the temporary houses. They are also paying gas bills and electricity bills. They will not leave these houses until their land lords ask them to do so.

They will not abide by any government decision either, the women said. The administration team dropped the drive and left the place, officials said.

Executive Magistrate Sabbir Rahman said they were asking people to leave the hills through all sources for several weeks and gave an ultimatum on April 10 to start eviction drive.

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