Illegal shopping complex on Imambada land demolished
Pragayaraj, March 13 (HS): Illegal commercial construction spread in an area of 500 sq feet on the land of Imambada in Batasha Mandi area of Prayagraj was razed by Prayagraj Development Authority (PDA).
The construction activity has been allegedly carried out by a close aide of former MP Atiq Ahmed. The basement and top two floors of the shopping complex were constructed three years ago. The cost of the building is estimated to around Rs. ten crores.
PDA officer on special duty Alok Pandey said, “The crackdown against the properties accumulated through illegal means by gangsters and history-sheeters, including Atiq Ahmad, is continuing. We are taking concrete steps of seizure, demolition, and attachment of such properties. We have demolished dozens of properties owned or constructed illegally by gangsters or their henchmen in the district in the past six months.”
The action against land mafias, hardened criminals, and gangsters will go on against all the men on radar to check organized crime said a senior cop. “The clampdown is being carried out chiefly under Section 14(1) of the Gangsters Act, which allows attachment of illegal properties, in order to effectively curb gangsters, mafias and criminals and their associates, the officials said.
The crackdown against former MP Atiq Ahmad and his aides by Prayagraj Development Authority (PDA), police, and district administration since August has resulted in the loss of over Rs 520 crore for them.
The joint team had first targeted mafia don turned politician Atiq Ahmad and dented his economic empire and hit his armory through suspension or cancellation of arms licenses. Heavy police deployment was in place to deal with any protest or disruption.
As the joint team started its demolition drive, a group of locals raised their voice against the PDA’s move, but senior police officials pacified them. The entire area was turned into a fortress and movement remained restricted for nearly 5 hours.
