Moga, May 2: The district administration in Moga moved to finalize land acquisition for the NH-105B project today, overseeing the demolition of houses in Duneke village. Supported by JCB machines and police cordons, the NHAI-led drive cleared several marked residential structures that stood in the path of the proposed highway.
The dawn operation was briefly interrupted when farmer groups arrived to protest the administrative action. Clashes of words and slogans led to a police intervention, resulting in the detention of several individuals to clear the way for demolition crews. Following the removal of protesters, the administrative teams proceeded to dismantle the houses.
“The district administration took possession of the land today so that the highway project could proceed without any delay,” stated DSP Jatinder Singh. He affirmed that the move was necessary to secure the final segments of the land designated for the national highway.
NHAI officials, though declining recorded interviews, maintained that the residents were given ample warning through legal notices. They declared that the compensation offered was significantly higher than the standard government rate, though they maintained that the residents had consistently refused to accept the payments.
Despite the removal of the buildings, the atmosphere in Duneke remains charged. Security forces are currently monitoring the area to ensure the site is protected, while the local farming community continues to affirm their opposition to the administration’s handling of the land acquisition process.
