A joint team of East Singhbhum district police and Jusco razed a cluster of illegal shops and houses from a two-cottah Tata Steel plot in BH Area near Ganesh Puja Maidan in Kadma on Wednesday.

Altogether, eight thatched houses-cum-shops, which had come up over the past four decades, were flattened as two excavators were pressed into service from 11am to 2.30pm.

The eviction drive was carried out on the instructions of Dhalbhum SDO Prem Ranjan. Though a big crowd, including the squatters, had gathered at the spot, no one resisted the drive because the administration had already warned that protesters would be arrested.

Apart from Jamshedpur circle officer S.P. Thakur, who was deputed as the magistrate, and Kadma thana OC Rajesh Prakash Sinha, there were about 10 armed policemen. Jusco's general manager Captain Dhananjay Mishra and other senior executives were also present.

"Jusco on behalf of Tata Steel had approached the Dhalbhum SDO, requesting him to issue orders to remove the squatters. The anti-encroachment drive was carried out on the instructions given by the SDO. I was assigned to supervise the drive as a magistrate," circle officer Thakur said.

OC Sinha said except for a few phone calls from JMM and Congress leaders, with requests to reconsider, they did not face any resistance.

A senior Jusco official said that the utilities company would erect a wall around the entire Maidan and develop it as a green lung.

"We have plans to convert the grounds and its adjoining areas into a park. There will be joggers' track, seating arrangements for visitors and other facilities. But, the project is at a nascent stage. We need to think about Ganesh Puja while chalking out the final draft," said the company executive.

The place where the eviction drive was carried out is close to Ganesh Puja Maidan.

Four decades ago, bamboo craftsman used to weave baskets here. Gradually, more and more people started setting up makeshift tents and run petty business. As the administration did not pay heed, the area turned into a mini-settlement.

Local residents claim that the place also became a gambling den. Munna Singh, owner of Mangal Singh Club, said he had lodged complaints several times with police and local administration.

Squatter Sheikh Aslam rued that his livelihood - he sold cotton for pillows in BH Area - had been ruined. "I have to find a new place to set up shop now."