The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Four hours of drama, tension at Golf Club

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Tuesday, Jun 03, 2008
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Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Four hours of drama, tension at Golf Club

Special Correspondent

– Photo: C. Ratheesh Kumar

State act: Revenue officials sealing the Golf Club in the city on Monday.

Thiruvananthapuram: The Golf Club witnessed dramatic events for over four hours till noon on Monday after Revenue officials arrived in the morning to take possession of the club premises.

While officials began formalities for the takeover, office-bearers of the club were seen huddled in groups, discussing strategies to avoid a takeover. A large posse of policemen were present.

As the day dragged on, AIYF volunteers stormed into the premises, shouting slogans hailing the government decision. Rattled by the turn of events, employees of the club mobilised themselves, raising slogans urging the government to ensure their job security.

Only a handful of employees and security staff were present when Revenue officials led by Additional District Magistrate V. Sivarajan Nair, Deputy Collector S. Savitri and Tahsildar C.R. Krishnakumar arrived at the club at 8.30 a.m.

As the officials began taking stock of the assets including the furniture and lockers, office-bearers of the club started trickling in along with members. The club management said they had made arrangements to move the court against the eviction. They began explaining their position to the battery of mediapersons present at the spot. The preparation of inventory dragged on for hours, triggering rumours about high-level interference.

District Collector Sanjay Kaul who turned up for a short while returned after a meeting with the club management and Revenue officials.

Meanwhile, a team of Excise officials also arrived at the club and immediately swung into action to inspect the stock of liquor in the bar.

By noon, the AIYF volunteers who were staging a sit-in before the pavilion, announced that they would symbolically takeover the premises and ‘seal’ the buildings. Soon thereafter, the office-bearers of the club left the premises.

Revenue officials, who were constantly in touch with their seniors, immediately swung into action and closed the massive doors of the pavilion. They tied canvas strips diagonally across the doors and sealed them with wax to signify the takeover, amidst slogan shouting by the AIYF volunteers and the CITU union representing the club employees.

The police team remained at the spot till the Revenue officials completed the process of eviction and pasted notices reading ‘Government Property’ at the entrance.

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