The godown that was razed. Picture by Suman Tamang

Darjeeling, April 21: A mob today tore down a godown, alleging that the structure would narrow the approach road beyond Ava Art Gallery in a tinderbox town where fire tenders find it difficult to get near burning buildings.

The crowd of around 70, mostly consisting of women, hit out at the godown and an under-construction septic tank adjacent to it with hammers and rods, bringing them down in two hours.

“People will feel insecure if the structures come up. The site is encroaching on the road. We also think that the owner has no valid papers,” said Sudha Subba, one of the protesters.

The residents had been complaining against the godown for the last two years. Five local samajs (village bodies) had complained to Rajesh Pandey, the district magistrate, on March 24, reminding him that the structure could pose a threat to the lives of the people in the area.

S.N. Pradhan, the owner of the godown, however, said he had all the permits required for the construction.

Following the people’s protest, the previous GNLF-controlled board of the Darjeeling Municipality had decided to cancel the building plan that the civic body had sanctioned earlier. Pradhan then approached the high court against the civic body’s decision.

Soumitra Pal, a judge of Calcutta High Court, while disposing the writ petition on February 6 last year said: “I find from the impugned order…of the writ petition that the plan which was sanctioned earlier ……was cancelled by chairman, Darjeeling municipality, without giving the petitioner an opportunity of hearing. In my view, since cancellation of plan affects to fundamental right of the petitioner and as such cancellation was carried out without giving the petitioner an opportunity of hearing, the order impugned cannot be sustained. The order dated 31 July 2006, there is set aside and quashed.” The court had, however, noted that the municipality was at liberty to move afresh in accordance with law.

Dinesh Gurung, the current vice-chairman of the municipality and a Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leader, said: “Unlike the previous board, we are here for the people. The municipality has nothing to do with today's incident, as it was a spontaneous outburst of the people. We had called Pradhan for a meeting today but he did not turn up. We however will have to continue to work for the people’s welfare.”

Pradhan, who has not yet approached the police, alleged that the entire incident was politically motivated.