ENCROACHMENT ON CANTONMENT LAND
PRELUDE
Bungalow No-87, on Jail Road Jhansi, is a Palatial Mansion with about 2 Acre plantation land surrounding it, a deep well and a few out-houses at the rear. Late LtCdr VP Bakhshi, NM(G), a Gallantry Awardee and the first Diver of Indian Navy, had purchased this in 1962. For more info on the Naval Officer please click the Link below
https://rajdutta26.blogspot.com/2018/04/
After the demise of LtCdr VP Bakhshi in early 2019, his Veer Nari Urmila Bakshi stayed alone royally in this Bungalow, while her Children visited her taking turns. She expired in an unfortunate train journey to Pune on 10 Jun 2023, after which her children, are visiting the Bungalow regularly, though her youngest daughter Meena (Matri Bhoomi Bhushan Samman Awardee) and I are on our 4th long visit after her demise last year. For more info on Mrs Urmila Bakshi, please click link below.
THEFT AT BUNGALOW AND ENCROACHMENT
On the morning of 24 Jul, Meena and I were on a drive from Mumbai to our Pune home, when Ownest Joseph from the Out-house called and informed her that the latch of the Main door of the Bungalow was seen broken, the grill door open and lock broken. She instructed him to go inside and have a look, check for Refrigerator and washing machine. Both were intact. She asked him to lock the grill door with the garage lock and keep the key in safe custody, till we reach. On our arrival at Pune we saw the CCTV recordings of the 3 cameras installed at the Bungalow on Meena’s mob (placed below). Three thieves were seen on camera entering and throwing things around. Face of one was clearly visible as he came close to the LED light of camera unsuspectingly. Meena edited the recordings and shared it with her family members on the Whatsapp group. We tried to contact the local Police to report the house-break. Nishi (spouse of Cmde Ramesh Kumar) , Meena’s elder sister spoke to a Police woman of Sadar Bazar Police station and shared the recording, and a constable had come the next day morning at the site for investigation with outhouse people.(Pics below)
Meena and I reached Jhansi by train on 02 Aug and went to Sadar Bazar PS the next day. Sub-Insp Dharam Singh came along with us to the Bungalow for a thorough investigation with Out-house people. On the Bungalow outer wall were a few illegally encroached hutments along the Jail Road. The prominent one was of a blacksmith couple ‘Índra’ (since 2019). The Sub-insp entered that to enquire with them too. On 05th morning Meena and I went to Sadar PS to check on update from Sub-Insp Dharam Singh. He advised us to go to Cantt Board Office and meet the CEO.
We met Mr Abhishek Azad, IDES, CEO Cantt Board Jhansi, and appraised him of the theft and encroachment. Later the Sub-insp also came to meet him. CEO called his staff and directed to get the encroachment evicted within 2 days. We were delighted by his proactive approach. I took the Official email ID from the CEO and fwded details of theft in the Bungalow and encroachment on the outer wall.
Albeit there was no action despite Meena and I visiting the Cantonment Board office for the next one month. We Couldn’t meet the CEO who’d been away to Babina on official visits, but met the Env Insp Pushpender Singh and Asst Ravi, who mentioned that Indra had approached Parshad of Jhansi Nigam, and there has been a delay in eviction.
On 17 th Aug we met Mr.Devendra Meena, since CEO was away to Babina. Mr.Devendra said that they have asked for 10 days and it was already 12 days. 28 th Aug - We were told by office staff that Mr.Pushpender's daughter is unwell so he didn't come and were told that order of vacating is already given.and on 28th by evening they will be removed but nothing was done. On 31st August CEO messaged that a public notice have been issued. 6th Sep - We again visited Environment office where we were told that the notice is till 7 th Sep. I appraised the CEO that more encroachments have taken place there.They are entering through our boundary wall. (Photo below.) It is therefore requested that no more time be granted and illegal hutment be evicted urgently. On 12 Sep , a part demolition was done by them to spoof the cantt Board and video was fwded to President Cantt Board. The updated video was made by Meena and fwded to CEO and President, showing the Hutments still in place.
Meena and I also called on Maj Gen AK Bhatt, GOC and Chairman Cantt Board on 10 Sep. During the White Tigers Anniv, Brig Ranjan Keron, President Cantt Board, came and met us and assured us that needful would be done to evict the encroachers.
I had been in regular Whatsapp touch with CEO, and with the Cantt Boards persistent efforts with Police the encroachment was finally cleared on 08 Oct with a JCB, a few days before Dussehra. Meena was visibly delighted and considered it the Victory of Good over Evil as the encroachment was successfully cleared from the Defence land.(Pics below)
This illegal encroachment eviction although took time, but it was the Cantt Board that got their own land evicted. We need responsible citizens to make the Board aware of any encroachments taking place on Defence lands.
Our Profound appreciation and Kudos to the Officials of the Jhansi Cantt Board and Police Station Sadar Bazar, for the proactive efforts. Viva and Bravo Zulu.
P.S. The CEO has been appraised of the residual open hutments and scattered liiter on the side wall of the Bungalow, even after a week of demolition. The CEO has assured of his staff getting it cleared. (Bottom Pics).
ILLEGAL HUTMENTS
RESIDUAL HUTMENTS
