Bulldozers did not stop demolition work of structures in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri, despite a Supreme court order to halt the anti-encroachment drive. Jahangirpuri witnessed communal clashes during a Hanuman Jayanti procession.
The Supreme Court has ordered a ‘status quo’ on the demolition drive area, which is tense after the communal classes during the Hanuman Jayanti procession on Saturday. The court will hear the matter tomorrow.
Apparently, the civic body ignored the court’s order and continued razing the shops and structures. The civic officials said that they are yet to receive the order and will act accordingly once they get it.
This morning, nine bulldozers sent by the civic body rolled into the locality of Jahangirpuri. Immediately, it started razing shops and other structures amid heavy police presence to prevent any law and order situation.
The anti-encroachment exercise was ordered after Delhi BJP chief Adesh Gupta wrote to the mayor. He asked him to identify illegal constructions by “rioters” and demolish them.
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Though the mayor terms it as a “routine exercise”, the sequence of incidents raises questions regarding the political motives. However, even before the demolition drive started, Special Commissioner of Police Dependra Pathak and other senior officers had a thorough check in the area.
Nine people, including eight policemen, were injured in the violence during which two groups pelted stones at each other. The police had to fire gunshots in the air.
However, 25 people were arrested so far in connection with the violence.
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