Govt Reclaims Land 'Encroached' by HDK

The state revenue department on Tuesday initiated measures to clear the encroachment of government land allegedly by Union minister HD Kumaraswamy in Ramanagara district, with the development coming a day after the state's high court issued stern warnings to officials over delay in implementing the court's earlier eviction orders.

- HT Correspondent

BENGALURU:

Senior Janata Dal (Secular) leader Kumaraswamy, however, termed the action a "conspiracy" against him by the Congress government, saying he would fight it out legally. He further said that he had purchased the parcel of land 40 years ago.

As part of the eviction operation, led by Ramanagara deputy commissioner Yashwant V Gurukar and additional superintendent of police (ASP) Suresh, officials of the revenue and survey departments started the process to reclaim 14.04 acres of encroached government land by deploying earthmovers near Kumaraswamy's farmhouse at Kethaganahalli village in Bidadi.

"Based on the high court's direction, we are carrying out the encroachment clearance today (Tuesday)," Gurukar told reporters, adding the encroachment is more than 14 acres, whose details would be submitted to the court.