Cops demolish shops near Mahagun Moderne society

The Noida Authority on Monday ordered the police to demolish makeshift shops near Mahagun Moderne Sector 78 stating that these were built on illegal land.

According to a senior Noida Authority official, the action had been due for some time.

"We had given them several warnings to which they (the shopkeepers) did not listen. So we had to take strict action against them. The encroachment is on illegal land but these people continue to set up their shops and houses anywhere they feel like, which is not allowed, " said Atal Rai, Additional Chief Executive Officer (ACEO), Noida Authority.

According to police, they are suspecting the involvement of these people in the mob violence that took place last week as they live just opposite the society.

"They live just opposite the society and we are sorting the CCTV footages and we will arrest people from the area as well," said Ajay Kumar Singh, SHO Sector 39.

However, the people whose shops were demolished alleged that they were not given any warning or notice.

"Police officials just came and started demolishing our shop's cum houses. We were not given any sort of warning, I had taken Rs 10,000 to run the shop. It is demolished now, how will I return the money? I live with my wife and two small children, where do I take them now. When they came, it was raining and my one-year-old child got sick because of this," said Javed who ran a tea stall in the area.