Kolkata, May 25 (IANS) A bulldozer drive was carried out on Monday at a multi-storey building under construction by Trinamool Congress leader and promoter-real estate developer Raju Naskar, triggering tension in the area.

People who had booked flats in the project turned furious and allegedly thrashed a close associate of Raju Naskar after an argument broke out in front of his office. Police and central forces reached the spot to bring the situation under control.

The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) had earlier served notices on two multi-storey buildings linked to Raju Naskar. The buildings are located at 37 Barwaritla Road and 1-E East Kulia Road in Beleghata in north Kolkata. There are a total of 16 flats in the two buildings. Out of these, the civic body demolished the under-construction structure at 1-E East Kulia Road.

Following the KMC notice, panic spread among the prospective flat owners associated with the projects promoted by Raju Naskar. On Monday, a few people also went to his office on East Kulia Road in Beleghata.

At that time, a young man arrived on a scooter. As soon as they saw him, a few people surrounded him, claiming that he was “Raju’s man”. They also allegedly slapped him, following which an argument broke out and continued for some time.

A complainant, identified as Poppy Dey, said: “That man is Raju Naskar’s close aide. When we went to Raju Naskar’s office, he was roaming around repeatedly. He was a real estate agent by profession. He also used to move around with ten people. He used to threaten people. Today, that same man was collecting information from here and passing it on to Raju. That is why we caught hold of him.”

The woman alleged that money had been taken from them, but no one received the agreement papers. They had also not seen the building plan. According to her, they were told that the documents would be handed over on Monday. However, when they went to Raju Naskar’s office, they found it locked.

It is learnt that the owners of the land on which the constructions are located are elderly and unwell. One of them reportedly has a heart ailment, while the other is a widow. Family members are allegedly unable to understand how to deal with the situation that has arisen.

Much of the anger of the flat buyers was directed at Raju Naskar’s associates. Some protesters alleged that they had still not received the required documents despite paying huge amounts for the flats. Others claimed that they had been cheated. Raju Naskar’s office remained locked after the KMC notices were served.

Locals said that the civic body had earlier raised questions over the housing projects for which notices have now been issued. Last September, during the Trinamool Congress government’s tenure, the KMC had allegedly asked for the construction work to be stopped. However, Raju Naskar had then reportedly assured residents that he would look into the entire matter.

Now, the complainants fear losing both their money and the flats promised to them. Several of them went to Beleghata police station in the afternoon to lodge complaints against Raju Naskar.

–IANS

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