Days after a temple priest was brutally thrashed at Adhoni village of Kurukshetra, the district administration on Monday demolished the portion of the illegal structures, identified as encroachments on the phirni of the village, constructed by the accused.

The illegal structure included the boundary walls of the dargah and the house of accused Pankaj.

On July 9, Pankaj, his wife Manpreet and Indra Ram had thrashed Yogiraj Giri, priest of the village temple.

Accused Pankaj’s house is situated opposite the temple and he has established a shrine dedicated to ‘Nakodar Peer’ at the rear of his house. He claims to be the ‘Sevadar’ of the ‘Peer’. Pankaj harboured a long-standing grudge against the temple priest and had previously threatened to kill him whenever he stepped out of the temple.

During the demolition drive, a heavy police force was deployed to maintain the law and order situation.

As the administration carried out the demolition drive, the kin of the accused said that the police have already arrested Pankaj and his wife Manpreet and Indra Ram. If it was an anti-encroachment drive, then action should have been taken at other people as well who have encroached upon the village land.

Pankaj’s mother, Paramjeet Kaur, said “The structure was inside my land. If it was an anti-encroachment drive, then it shouldn’t be limited to my house only as there are encroachments at several places in the village. The dargah shouldn’t have been damaged.”

Similarly, Pankaj’s mother-in-law said “The police have also arrested my daughter while she had not assaulted the priest. I appeal to the police to release my daughter as her three children have been crying for their mother all day.”

SHO Thanesar Sadar Police Station Randhir Singh said “An anti-encroachment drive was conducted in the village and as per the request received, police force was deployed. The drive was completed in a peaceful manner. In connection with the assault case, all three people have been already arrested.”

Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO) Thanesar Amit Kumar, who was present as the duty magistrate, said “With the help of police, the encroachment has been removed as per the orders and the land was handed over to the village panchayat. There was illegal encroachment on the Phirni of the village. The main gate and wall of the dargah have been demolished, and similarly, the portion of the boundary wall of the house which was on the phirni of the village has been damaged.”

“There was a complaint from the village panchayat regarding the encroachment and as per the orders the action was taken. The total length of the encroachment was around 100 feet. There are some more encroachments in the village and the demolition drive will continue in the coming days as well.”

Meanwhile, representatives of the Sadhu Samaj welcomed the action against the accused. They said that such a behavoiur with the priest was not acceptable. Sant Sunil Dass, a representative of the Sadhu Samaj, said that it has been decided to hold a meeting in Kurukshetra on July 15 to decide the future course of action.