Portion of 'Pathankot martyr' house to be demolished in Bengaluru; family says it's national hero's residence

Bengaluru: With Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) all set to demolish the illegal portion of martyred National Security Guard (NSG) commando Lieutenant Colonel Niranjan Kumar's residence here, politics has taken its course.

While Karnataka Chief Minister S Siddaramaiah justified BBMP's move to carry on the demolition drive, Bharatya Janata Party leader Jagdish Shettar differed with the CM's view saying, at least we should give respect to the family of (Lt Col Niranjan), who sacrificed his life during Pathankot terror attack.

Karnataka Home Minister G Parmeshwara said the state government could give an alternative site to the family to build another house.

Meanwhile, BBMP Assistant Commissioner A Alam was all praise for Niranjan's family, who supported the officials' move of razing the illegal structures.

Alam saluted the late NSG commando's parents for cooperating and agreeing to demolish the encroached portion of their residence.

Brother of Niranjan said the authorities should stop the demolition drive or give them or time. While making his appeal, he tried to strike an emotional chord by invoking his briother's scarifice. “It is very hard for us to digest this because we have lost our brother in Pathankot attack and now we are seeing the house is being demolished,” ANI quoted him.

"If we would have got any prior notice then we would have done something about it. It is a shame for the country. It is up to the government to look into the matter and move forward," he added.

The demolition drive by BBMP has been undertaken to get rid of the encroachment on storm water drains in the city.

Besides Kumar's home, 1100 more residences have been marked for the demolition drive.

Lt Col Niranjan, a member of the NSG's Bomb Disposal Squad, was killed while he was defusing the grenade at the scene of the terror attack as part of the combing operations that continued through the night.