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Samaresh Jung’s ancestral house in Khyber Pass, where his family has lived since before independence, is set for demolition read more
 "India shooting coach Samaresh Jung returns from Paris Olympics to demolition notice")
India national shooting coach Samaresh Jung in New Delhi. PTI
Returning from the Paris Olympics, where he coached shooters Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh to a bronze medal, national pistol shooting coach Samaresh Jung faced distressing news upon arriving at his Delhi home.
Paris Olympics: News, schedule, medals tally and more
His ancestral house in Khyber Pass, where his family has lived since before independence, is set for demolition on Saturday morning.
Despite the recent Olympic success, Jung expressed frustration over the abrupt notice, highlighting the impact on his elderly mother and the family’s belongings.
“After the euphoria of Indian shooters winning two Olympic medals, I, the team coach, just returned home from the Olympics to the disheartening news that my house and locality is to be demolished in 2 days,” Jung said on Thursday night.
“Writ petition for interim relief cancelled, not taken up for hearing by high court. Is it an emergency or war situation that we hv to vacate in a day? Decorated Sportsman Arjuna Awardee not given a hearing, not a positive message for our sportsmen trying to win for the country (sic),” he added.
The demolition is based on a Delhi High Court ruling on July 9 that the land belongs to the Ministry of Defence. Jung’s wife, Anuja, a former India shooter, echoed his concerns, questioning the urgency of the authorities’ decision.
A notice was issued on July 1, requiring residents to vacate by July 4. This was challenged, but in an urgent hearing on July 3, the court asked the demolition to go ahead, provided due process was followed.
Jung does not oppose vacating the house but criticised the short notice, making it difficult to pack and leave.
“The authorities came and announced that the whole area is going to be broken… whatever happiness we had about bagging medals at the Paris Olympics, we’ve had to leave there,” he told The Indian Express.
“My mother is 75 years old; she has to leave her decades-old house now,” he said.
The High Court had ruled the residents as trespassers, and over 250 houses have already been demolished, with the rest scheduled for Saturday.
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