Demolition drive: Martyr's family asks BBMP for time

Niranjan Kumar, a bomb expert with NSG, had sacrificed his life in the terror attack on Pathankot airbase in January this year We want to request them for a couple of days time so that we can rectify it by ourselves," Lt Col Niranjan Kumar's mother Radha Shivarajan said

Kumar, a bomb expert with NSG, had sacrificed his life in the terror attack on Pathankot airbase in January this year.

The family, which clearly stated that they did not want any special treatment, fear the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike's (BBMP) method of demolition may cause damage to the fundamental structure of the building at Doddabommasandra.

"BBMP officials have not come yet. In the morning they removed part of outside wall (but) not much, still they have not come. They have marked a pillar for demolition which supports the first floor home built for Niranjan.

We want to request them for a couple of days time so that we can rectify it by ourselves," Lt Col Niranjan Kumar's mother Radha Shivarajan said.

"We don't want BBMP's JCB to come and demolish as it will become a problem for us. We will remove the pillar and rectify ourselves. If they do, it won't be done properly. That's the reason we are requesting for time," she said.

"What is for others (rules), is for us also, no problem with it; but he was a national hero, so to preserve his remembrance, we want time," she added.

“We were even promised that a road in front of our house would be named after Niranjan, but till now nothing has happened. Now, this house is facing this problem. It has inflicted pain on us, and we are feeling ashamed," Radha Shivarajan said.

She said Niranjan's father Shivarajan was in Kerala to oversee his 'Samadhi' work.

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said the government could consider providing an alternative site or "help to build an alternative house (to Niranjan's family).

Opposition BJP leader in the Assembly Jagadish Shettar had said the government's move was a "disrespect" to the martyr's family, and steps should have been taken to provide an alternative home for them.

Following Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's order, the BBMP on Saturday had begun a demolition drive at Avani Sringeri Nagar in Bommanahalli, Kasavanahalli in Mahadevapura and Shivanahalli in Yelahanka, which is being extended to other areas too.

Recent incessant rains had flooded Bengaluru, crippling normal life in several parts of the city and forcing the state government and civic authorities to swing into action.

Siddaramaiah has also ordered action against 20 government officials for their involvement in encroachment.