The demolition of a Cross in Bandra (West) by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Saturday has left the catholic community irked. The Cross was on D' Monte Street near Bazaar Road abutting a house in Gaothan area.
"They came early in the morning with a lot of police and demolished the Cross at around 11.30 am. We showed them papers stating the legality of the Cross, but they didn't relent," said Savio Gonsalves, who stays opposite the Cross and looks after it along with other community members. Gonsalves said that while he had been praying there for 30 years, elders of the locality vouch it was there even before 1964.
Police officers said that heavy police bandobast was put in place to avoid any untoward incident. Police said that there was severe opposition from the locals but the crowd was controlled by the police teams and the demolition was carried out.
After the demolition, community members conducted a prayer service and even put up a temporary Cross at the place. A number of people went to the Bandra police station to protest the demolition.
The issue of illegal shrines and structures has been making rounds for a while. The Supreme Court, responding to a PIL, had ordered all illegal structures in public places to be demolished. "All the notices were responded to by us," said Rita D'Sa of the Bombay Catholic Sabha.
"They have confused it with the illegal ones," said Godfrey Pimenta, adding that " this Cross didn't feature in the list of illegal ones.
"We have received an application in this regard and we will look into the matter and if required we will register a complaint against the responsible person(s)," said an officer from Bandra police station.
Sharad Ughade, Assistant Municipal Commissioner, H-West ward, where the demolition was carried out, was not available for comment.
Sanjay Deshmukh, Additional Municipal Commissioner, in charge of the BMC in the absence of the municipal commissioner said, "We are only in charge of routine affairs. Get in touch with Mrs Kundan for discussions on this issue."
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