PDA team faces stiff resistance during anti-demolition drive
PRAYAGRAJ : Anti-encroachment team of Prayagraj Development Authority (PDA) backed by police faced a stiff resistance from local shopkeepers and vendors during an anti-encroachment drive in Civil Lines on Saturday.
While, the shopkeepers alleged that they were assaulted by police and officials, the PDA team led by its zonal officer Alok Pandey alleged that his gunner and he were attacked by upset locals who also hurled stones and bricks during the drive aimed at freeing public land and parking spaces encroached upon by shopkeepers.
The police had to resort to a mild lathicharge to disperse the mob. A video of a shopkeeper being beaten also went viral. A complaint has been made to the Civil Lines police station on behalf of the PDA and the shopkeepers levelling charges against each other but no FIR was registered in this connection till late evening.
The shopkeepers staged a demonstration at the police station demanding action till late in the evening. Trouble started when the PDA team and police started removing encroachments from the parking areas of Civil Lines in compliance with an Allahabad high court directive.
The team, led by zonal officer Alok Pandey reached Subhash crossing in the afternoon. An opposition was raised during the removal of a shop of former corprorator Amit Singh. The shopkeepers demanded that PDA should first issue a notice before taking action while the PDA officials claimed that as the shops were made by encroaching upon public land, they were within their right to take action.
Locals led by Amit Singh and Sunny Singh entered into an altercation with Alok Pandey over it. Pandey alleged that there was an attempt to attack him too. He also alleged that an attempt was also made by some persons to snatch his gunner’s carbine. In the stone pelting, Sunny Singh sustained an injury on his forehead.
The police resorted to mild force and dispersed the agitating shopkeepers. A number of makeshift shops were demolished during the drive.
POLICE HAD TO RESORT TO A MILD LATHICHARGE TO DISPERSE THE MOB. A VIDEO OF A SHOPKEEPER BEING BEATEN ALSO WENT VIRAL.