Residents oppose eviction notice, lay siege to taluk office

Hundreds of residents of three areas in Dindigul on Wednesday laid siege to Dindigul East Taluk Office opposing the eviction notices issued to them.

The protesters said the residential areas such as Pudhu Theru, Rajiv Gandhi Nagar and Sakthipuram were located near the Lourdes Matha Church in Mariyanathapuram in Dindigul. More than 250 families were residing in these areas, they said.

Recently, the Revenue Department had issued notices to the residents stating that they had built houses on the government poramboke land and asked them to vacate the premises.

Shocked by this, the residents gathered at the Taluk Office and staged a protest against the eviction notices. Subsequently, the officials held talks with the residents and during the discussion, the officials told the residents that since houses were built on the government poramboke land, they had to vacate the areas. The officials assured the residents that alternative arrangements would be made.

However, the residents said they wanted to continue to live at the present place. They said they were residing in the same area for over 50 years. The officials told the protesters that they would consult the higher authorities and take appropriate action regarding the matter. Following the assurance from the officials, the residents dispersed.