Just a week to get out, cops tell big 20

POLICE AND administration authorities held a meeting with 20 post-65 tenants of the Raja here at the office of the SP City (East) in Hazratganj on Wednesday. The purpose of the meeting was to give a clear-cut message to these occupants that they had run out of time and had to vacate the premises immediately failing which they would be ejected forcibly.

POLICE AND administration authorities held a meeting with 20 post-65 tenants of the Raja here at the office of the SP City (East) in Hazratganj on Wednesday.

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The purpose of the meeting was to give a clear-cut message to these occupants that they had run out of time and had to vacate the premises immediately failing which they would be ejected forcibly. But, after much pleading and cajoling, the tenants, who sought a week’s time to vacate their premises, were asked to furnish the affidavit stating that they would vacate the premises within the timeline.

“We had served final notices on all the 20 tenants on Monday and asked them to shift their belongings within 24 hours,” said an official. This includes 13 shopkeepers of Janpath Market— who would each lose a major portion of their shops in the process —and seven occupants of Mahmudabad Mansion opposite Halwasiya Market.

However, only a dozen tenants turned up at the meeting, which was attended by additional district magistrate Baranwal, additional superintendent of police Ajay Shankar Rai and sub-divisional magistrate (Sadar) cum managing officer of the enemy property Manoj Rai.

“Some Janpath traders have pleaded for more time on the ground that they would have to relocate their business. Consequently, it was decided that they should furnish an affidavit in this connection before their request would be considered,” said an officer. He said a letter had been sent to the scion of Mahmudabad seeking a convenient date and time from him to take over the possession either himself or send one of his authorised representative for the same. “We are still awaiting a reply from him (the Raja) in this regard,” said the official.

Some post-65 tenants had claimed that they too should be treated on par with pre-65 occupants on the ground that the premises was allotted to them by legal leaseholders of the Raja. Administration officials, however, said after the latest missive from the Custodian of Enemy Property in Mumbai containing the names of those to be evacuated there was no confusion on this count. Among the Janpath Market shopkeepers this includes Mahatex, Modern Book Sons, Bansal and Sons, Ghanshyam Opticals, The Shop, Messers Keshav House, A Sons, MM Durga Store, Pantaloon Shop, Ambika Electronics, Kesri Sweet, Lucknow Chikan Palace and Anu Advertising.