Bantwal: The bus shelter board, which was built in the fond memory of Ashraf Kalayi by his brothers, was cleared under the instructions of tahsildar, Purandar Hegde on 30th July, Sunday.
It is gathered that the deceased SDPI leader Ashraf’s brothers had not obtained legal permission from the authorities for constructing the bus stop.
In the memory of their deceased brother Ashraf, who was the killed by miscreants on 21st June, they had built a bus stop at Kalayi. But soon after the inaugural function on Sunday morning, the tahsildar of the taluk, Purandar Hegde, arrived at the spot along with police personnel and other officials.
He said that the bus shelter did not have permission from local administration and asked the concerned to clear shelter.
Even though lot of requests were made by Ashraf’s brothers and local leaders pleading not to dismiss the shelter as it was built in a hurry to commemorate 40th day since Ashraf's death, the tahsildar did not accept this argument.
They even promised to get permission of the gram panchayat on Monday, clarifying that the panchayat officials have been orally informed about it.
The tahsidar said that someone had complained to the Deputy Commissioner about building the bus shelter without prior permission and that the deputy commissioner had asked him to follow procedures. He wanted the bus shelter to be vacated immediately and suggested the concerned to build it again after getting permission.
The ASP of the subdivision Dr Arun K, rural sub inspector Umesh and others who had arrived recommended to bring down the name board of the bus shelter and fix it again after obtaining permission.
Leaders of different parties and religions present there including SDPI local assembly constituency committee president, Shahul Hameed, Former gram panchayat president Chandrashekhar Bhandary, a local leader Janardan and others opposed demolition of the bus shelter. Some leaders present there tried to contact ministers and pressurise the officials to relent.
However when even that did not bear any success, the name board was finally removed.