Last week, a showcause notice was served on Bharat Ratna club that hit the headlines after its secretary was shot dead at point blank range on April 30.

The Tripura government on Wednesday demolished the building of the Bharat Ratna Club, one of the largest Durga Puja organising clubs in Agartala city, that was erected on government land.

“As the building was set up on khas land (government land), it was demolished following procedures of law so that we could go for government projects in future here. Simultaneously, we, from the government side, want to give a message that any organisation, if found involvement in any illegal activities like, land mafia, smuggling, tender negotiation, stern action will be taken against them,” said West District Magistrate Dr Vishal Kumar.

The notice, signed by estate officer of Sadar Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) office, was issued to the president and secretary of the club on July 8, asking them to remove the building within seven days or else, show reasons why the said building in the name of Bharat Ratna Club would not be removed by July 15.

The notice said, ” …. it appears that you have erected a building/structure etc.in the name of ‘Bharat Ratna Club (Sangha)’ in the public premises described in schedule below in contravention of the provisions of Sub-Section (1) of Section 6 of the Tripura Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorized Occupants) Act, 1982″.

Kumar earlier said that the structure was built on nearly one acre land, and the area in front of the Bharat Ratna Club building was also khas land.