Demolition drive turns violent at Ashok Vihar

India, May 4 -- Local residents clashed with police and Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) officials on Friday during a demolition drive along a 900-metre-long stretch near Ashok Vihar Phase-3.

A team of senior MCG officials reached the locality around 9am to demolish two houses, which were illegally constructed and had been razed by the MCG a few months ago. According to a high court order, no new construction is allowed on this stretch as this is a restricted defence area in proximity to the air force ammunition depot.

As the residents came to know about the drive by MCG, they rushed to the spot and staged a demonstration. They also pelted stones at officials. About 300 police personnel were deployed to control the mob, resulting in a clash. Many were injured in the stone-pelting and the police lathi-charge that followed.

Ashok Vihar residents also blocked the road leading to Sector 5 near the police commissioner's office, thus throwing traffic out of gear for hours. MCG vehicles were also vandalised.

Two policemen and an old woman were seriously injured in the clash and were admitted to the civil hospital in Gurgaon. DCP (west) Surender Pal Singh said, "The residents became violent during a routine drive and attacked MCG officials. Some residents have been arrested." He added that a case had been registered against residents by Veena Hooda, joint director of MCG.

Meanwhile, local councillor Gaje Singh said: "The MCG is being too strict with the proceedings and the residents are not being given an opportunity to be heard before demolition drives are conducted. People were protesting peacefully when the lathi-charge started. This angered the residents and they resorted to stone-pelting."

Published by HT Syndication with permission from Hindustan Times.

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Demolition drive turns violent at Ashok Vihar