Times News NetworkKanpur: An elderly man climbed over a water tank at Vikas Bhavan in Kannauj district after allegedly failing for 13 years to secure the removal of an illegal encroachment from a village chak road.Ratiram, a resident of Behata village in Chhibramau tehsil, was safely brought down after tehsildar Avnish Kumar and CO City Suresh Kumar heard his complaint and assured him of action.His protest caused a stir on the premises and drew a crowd. Officials reached the spot after being informed and counselled him before persuading him to descend.Ratiram alleged that local strongmen had encroached upon the chak road for about 13 years, blocking villagers’ route to and from their fields. He said he had repeatedly complained to officials, from the tehsil to the district administration, but the encroachment had not been removed.He also alleged that he had repeatedly visited the offices of the lekhpal and tehsildar but received only assurances. According to him, other villagers were reluctant to raise the issue because they feared the encroachers.Ratiram said he climbed over the tank to draw officials’ attention to the unresolved complaint. He warned that he would commit suicide if the alleged illegal encroachment was not removed.
