Govt orders Bharat Ratna Club to remove building on public property within one week

The sub divisional administration of Sadar  on Monday served a notice on Bharat Ratna Club, one of the largest social clubs and Durga Puja organizers in Agartala city and gave one week deadline to remove the building erected on government land, failing which it would be demolished by the authorities.

Two months ago, Bharat Ratna Club came to limelight after its incumbent secretary was shot dead at point blank range on the outskirts of the city allegedly by negotiation mafias.

In the notification sent to the president and secretary of the club on July 8, it was mentioned that the building was erected in the name of the club on public property.

The notice signed by estate officer of Sadar Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) office reads, “… it appears that you have erected a building / structure etc.in the name of ‘Bharat Ratna Club (Sangha)’ in the public premises described in schedule below in contravention of the provisions of Sub-Section (1) of Section 6 of the Tripura Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorized Occupants) Act, 1982”.

It further reads, “You are hereby directed to remove the said building of ‘ Bharat Ratna Club (Sangha)’ within seven days of the service of this notice or to show cause by 15/07/2024 as to why you shall not remove the said constructed building in the name of Bharat Ratna Club”.

On the issue, West Tripura District Magistrate (DM) Dr Vishal Kumar said that the land is nearly one acre and the area in front of the Bharat Ratna Club building is also khas land.

He said that the state police have sought an inquiry report on the land status of Bharat Ratna Club and during enquiry , the authorities  found that the club land is  government ‘khas’ land and a structure and one or two buildings were found erected on it.

Dr Kumar added that the Sadar SDM  instructed to remove the building and if it is not done within seven days, then it will be removed by the government.

Durga Prasanna Deb alias Viki Deb, secretary of Bharat Ratna Sangha, one of the biggest social clubs of the state was shot dead at Shalbagan  area on the outskirts of Agartala on April 30.

In the preliminary investigation, the police found that enmity between two groups within the club led to the sensational murder.