Clearing activity by civic officials of West Zone of the Iqbal nagar slums on Sunday turned violent after slum dwellers resorted to stone pelting and physically abused the civic employees. Another slum dweller also tried to set himself ablaze in the ensuing melee. Around 200 dwellers of the Iqbal nagar slums became homeless in the civic action — a part of SMC's plan to make Surat slum free.
Officials of the west zone started shifting process on Sunday in a bid to shift slums from the banks of Tapi river to EWS quarters. In-order to prevent any unwanted situation, the officials also took police, civic fire department and security officials of SMC while starting the shifting process of 506 slums located in different pockets. Though the shifting process
remained peaceful till afternoon, tussle erupted between a slum dweller and officials, which soon turned the scene violent.
Laxam Chandankar, a resident of Jalaram nagar slums started arguing with SMC officials demanding two separate EWS houses for him. Chandankar said that he owns two houses and so his demand is genuine. Civic officials however argued and said that he will get only one flat. Angered Chandankar attempted suicide by dousing himself with kerosene and setting himself ablaze. However, he was saved by his wife and later shifted to new civil hospital.
Chandankar's act angered frustrated slum dwellers, who started pelting stones upon SMC officials and other staff. All officials took shelter in nearby places and informed the cops who fired tear gas shells and lathi-charged upon the agitators to control the situation. Three persons were injured due to stone pelting, however no casualties was reported in the incident.
"Slum dwellers suddenly started pelting stones, just to create disturbance in our work that was going peacefully. The shifting process was a scheduled one and all dwellers were informed in advance. Altogether 250 slums are to be shifted which will be completed on Monday," a top official of west zone said, requesting anonymity.
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