Eviction drive at Bana baba ashram enters third day

Konark: The eviction drive launched by the Puri district administration at self-styled godman Bana Baba alias Banambara Moharana’s ashram near Konark entered the third-day on Sunday.

According to reports, an ACF, a Ranger and 60 forest officials were deployed at the spot to avoid any untoward incident.

All buildings, including the main building of the ashram, built by the Baba on the 19-acre encroached land, will be demolished during the drive, officials said.

Anticipating disturbance during the eviction process, the district administration has deployed six platoons of police force to avoid any untoward incident.

Twenty five supporters, including 10 women, of the Baba were arrested and forwarded to court on Friday after they clashed with the police during the eviction drive.

It may be noted here that Bana Baba initially built his ashram on 10 acres of forest land back in 1999. Later, the periphery of the hermitage was extended to 19.60 acres of forest land and 30 decimals of revenue land as per the findings of the Revenue Department.