Tiljala: 'We had required papers, were not given time to show'

Kolkata, May 14 -- A day after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari issued a "zero tolerance" warning against illegal constructions and ordered strict action following the Tiljala fire tragedy, demolition work resumed for the second consecutive day on Thursday at the four-storey building on GJ Khan Road.

Workers were seen carrying out demolition from the rooftop while anxious family members stood outside with salvaged belongings, files and property papers, watching the structure being pulled down.

The administration had ordered demolition after alleging that the building had no sanctioned plan and serious fire safety violations.

But at the site, the owners and residents maintained that the structure was not illegal and claimed they possess all necessary documents related to the property. The building, owned by Sheikh Nasir and his son Zafar Nisar, has become the centre of a growing legal and political battle after Tuesday's fire.

Sana Shakil, wife of arrested co-owner Zafar Nisar, claimed the family has ownership papers, trade licence documents and other records but was never given a proper opportunity to place those before authorities. "We came rushing after hearing about the demolition. We have all the documents. If there were objections, we should have been allowed to show our papers before such action was taken," she alleged.

Other family members were seen carrying files, certificates and essential belongings from the building, claiming they were given very little time to remove household items before the demolition began. They insisted that the legality of the structure could be established if their documents were examined through proper legal procedure.

Nawsad Siddique visited the area on Thursday and urged residents not to get involved in any confrontation. He assured the affected families of legal assistance.

The matter had already been mentioned before the Calcutta High Court, where the Chief Justice reportedly asked the petitioners to file a proper case.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.