Kota: Locals, cops clash during encroachment drive

At least two vehicles including encroachment squad’s of JCB, a media person’s motorbike were set on fire and over 10 persons including media persons, police and UIT squad personnel sustained injuries on Tuesday morning after encroachment squad accompanied by police team was attacked encroachers in Awanli Rojadi and Nayagaun area of Mukundra Vihar extension under RK Puram police station of Kota city where Urban Infrastructure Trust (UIT) is set to launch its residential housing scheme.

The encroachment squad of Urban Infrastructure Trust (UIT) accompanied by police team reached to remove encroachments in Awanli Rojadi and Nayagaun area of Mukundra Vihar extension where people have illegally occupied and constructed homes on over about 18 to 20 bighas of land worth crores of rupees.

While the encroachment squad was removing encroachments, the illegal dwellers at around 11.30 assembled and started pelting stones at the squad and police team. The police, in retaliation, resorted to lathi charge and tear gas shells to disperse the crowd that resulted in a stampede.      

A JCB machine and a motorbike were set on fire by the mob and at least 10 people including media persons, police and UIT squad personnel sustained injuries in the stone pelting, told circle in charge, RK Puram police station Om Prakash. The process to lodge a case against the accused in the matter is underway and the names of the accused would be disclosed once the processor is over, he said.

The locals had constructed houses and set up a makeshift tent in the land and were earlier convinced for the removal of their construction, he said. ‘The encroachments on the land were on Tuesday removed with the help of police force,’ the secretary said.