2 cops injured in protest against VMC's encroachment drive

Vadodara, May 31: Two policemen were today injured when a mob allegedly set on fire a police outpost and their six two-wheelers as they protested an encroachment drive by the civic body on Ajwa Road here, police said.

"The mob of nearly 200 people attacked the officials of Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) when they reached Suleiman-Ni-Chal locality to carry out demolition.

They set on fire a police chowki, six two-wheelers of policemen and also pelted stones," Joint Commissioner of Police D J Patel said. "Two policemen sustained minor injuries. 50 Special Reserve Police personnel along with local policemen were deployed to control the situation," he said.

"Ten teargas shells were also fired by police to disperse the mob," Patel said. The VMC, which is on a major demolition drive across the city as part of Smart City project, had issued a notice on May 28 and gave three days time to people who were living "illegally" in the locality and evacuate the places.

The people erected around 227 temporary houses on a plot which is reserved for a garden. Meanwhile, VMC Commissioner H S Patel said the situation has been brought under control and the demolition was being carried out as planned.

"This is an effort (by mob) to stop demolition but we are determined to carry out the operation. We know the drive is good for the city and we are not targeting any person, a group or a community but doing it as part of the Smart City project," he told reporters.

"The notice was served on May 28 and VMC officials yesterday visited the spot to check the situation. It was found that none of residents had evicted the places. Hence, VMC was forced to carry out the demolition drive," another VMC official said.

PTI