Bhubaneswar: Residents of Salia Sahi Slum on Friday took to the streets protesting an eviction drive ordered by the administration.
Thousands of the slum dwellers under the aegis of Salia Sahi Anchalika Committee took out a huge rally at Lower PMG and staged protest accusing the government for unilaterally deciding to evict the locals without any consultations.
The residents of the slum alleged that earlier in the day, an enforcement team arrived for eviction, however, due to protests, the drive was called off.
Demanding the government to make arrangements for their rehabilitation first, the agitating residents have said that each evicted slum dweller should be provided 600 square feet land.
During the protests, an agitating woman registered her protest in a unique manner by tonsuring her head. Moreover, several senior leaders of Opposition BJP and Congress also joined the protest.