Civic officials were attacked by citizens on Thursday when they tried to remove illegal constructions at Varachha here.
In yet another such incident, civic officials were attacked by citizens on Thursday afternoon when they tried to remove illegal constructions at Varachha here.
Citizens pelted the civic staff with stones, in which one SMC engineer sustained serious head injuries.
The incident sparked anger among civic officials, who have decided not to conduct any demolition in the city without police protection.
SMC officials have lodged a complaint with Varachha police station.
Officials of east zone comprising four deputy civic engineers, 20 beldars and 10 security guards on Thursday went to Patel Nagar society in Varachha to bring down illegal constructions. The owner of the building, Mukesh Patel, began arguing with the civic officials.
As arguments were going on, a big crowd gathered at the site and began to harass civic officials.
Within a few minutes, the crowd encircled civic staff and started thrashing them, and even pelting them with stones. Unable to face the crowd's wrath, civic officials fled from the place.
However, Sharad Shah, deputy engineer of east zone, failed to escape and was trapped in the crowd. The mob assaulted Shah and hit him on his head with stones and bricks, due to which Shah sustained severe head injuries.
Shah was rescued after Varachha police arrived on the spot and took him to SMIMER Hosptial. He received more than 12 stitches on his head due to the attack. He was discharged after preliminary treatment.
The incident sparked anger among civic officials, who decided not to conduct any demolition in the city without adequate police protection. They were enraged particularly because this was the second major attack on them in a week.
Earlier, SMC staff were attacked during sealing of gold kilns in Bhagal.However, higher authorities said that demolitions are done after proper planning.
“Such demolitions are not new for us. We have conducted demolitions at the Varachha site twice and this was our third attempt. Our officials said that people were instigated by a political leader, who was present at the spot. We have provision of providing police security and do provide forces whenever needed," J K Shah, head of east zone, said.
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