Salem tense as drive to evict shops by HR and CE draws opposition

A large number of policemen were deployed in the place while anticipating tension. The land located at Thiruvagoundanur near Salem-Bangalore National Highways was donated by one Krishnan Chettiyar to the ancient Venugopalaswamy temple in the year 1899.

However, more than 80 houses and commercial establishments were built encroaching the temple land.

Following a plea by the temple management in the Madras High Court to evict encroachments, the court issued an order to the HR & CE to take possession of the land belonging to the temple.

The shopkeepers broke into quarrel with HR & CE officials and temple authorities, when they turned up to seal the encroached shops near AVR Roundana on Thursday morning. Also the houses were issued notices for eviction within 15 days.

As the situation grew tense with the shopkeepers besieging officials, a large team of around 50 policemen led by Suramangalam Assistant Commissioner Nagarajan came to the spot.

In the presence of police, the HR & CE authorities sealed seven shops in the first phase and the eviction drive is likely to continue in the coming days too.

Officials said that 3,000 sq ft of land worth Rs 4.5 crore has been taken into possession now and the total worth of the yet to be retrieved land is estimated to be around Rs 100 crore.