About three weeks after supporters of self-styled godman Bana Baba reoccupied the earlier demolished the ashram built illegally on forestland near here, the Puri district administration on Fridaybegan a demolition drive on the land.
A Kali temple and the Havan Kund built at the ashram premises were first razed to the ground.
The drive was, however, not peaceful as hundreds of Bana Baba’s supports, including women, staged a sit-in in front of the ashram. Some even clashed with the police leading to arrest of 20 people, including 10 women.
While some of the Baba’s devotees attempted self-immolation, their bid was foiled by the security forces.
As many as 11 platoons of police forces were deployed at the scene to avoid any untoward incident. Prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC were also imposed in the area.
The demolition drive was carried out in the presence of Puri Sub-Collector, additional SP, three DSPs and senior officials of the Forest Department.
Notably, Bana Baba alias Kalki Baba alias Banambara Moharana had initially built his ashram on 10 acre of forestland back in 1999. later, the periphery of the hermitage was extended to 19.60 acre of forestland and 30 decimal of revenue land as per a finding of the Revenue Department.
Even though the ashram was evicted on September 5, 2015 following media reports about illegal possession of land and the Forest Department established a section office in the building, the Baba’s devotees reoccupied the land and constructed a building again in May this year.