'Pondy should be rid of property usurpers': Bedi

In a release, she said she had received a petition at the open house meet in Raj Nivas on December 13.

Those who had purchased residential plots in Thattanchavady complained that they could not go ahead with construction of houses because of alleged threat and intimidation by the "rowdy", who she said, is now in jail in a murder case.

The "rowdy" had allegedly illegally encroached on the site "dispossessing the legal owners of their properties including houses," she said in the release.

Bedi went to the spot on her bicycle today to have an on-the-spot-assessment accompanied by officials of Raj Nivas, revenue officials and the police.

The Lt Governor said she asked the Superintendent of Police (North) Rachana Singh and IAS probationer Devansh Yadav to submit a report on the action taken by police and civil authorities during the last ten years on complaints from property owners.

"The report should be available by December 22 and should specifically show the reasons for delay in making justice available to the petitioners," she said.

The Union Territory of Puducherry "should be rid of activities of anti-social elements and property usurpers."

"Rowdyism should not be a source of employment for the unemployed in Puducherry," Bedi added.