Violence during anti-encroachment drive in Patna, police lathicharge

Patna, Dec 8: Locals fought pitched battle with security personnel to protest demolition of their houses by district administration as part of anti-encroachment drive of the Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (NMCH) land, here today.

Acting on an order of the Supreme Court to clear encroachment from land belonging to Medical College and Hospital, a team of district administration and police went to the area but faced stone-pelting by a section of crowd, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Patna range, Upendra Kumar Sinha told PTI.

With arrival of additional force, policemen resorted to lathicharge to control the mob, the DIG said. Later, however, the administration resumed the anti-encroachment drive of the land belonging to NMCH under Alamganj police station area.

Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Revenue Neel Kamal told PTI that there are about 74 'pucca' houses and more than 600 'Kachha' (hutments) built illegally on land belonging to NMCH. The drive was carried on under monitoring of Patna High Court on direction of the apex court.

Acting on a PIL filed by Vikash Chand alias Guddu Baba three years ago seeking removal of encroachments from land belonging to Medical Colleges and Hospital in Bihar, the Patna High Court had ordered removal of encroachments and set up a committee under Principal Secretary Health to carry the task.

The matter had gone to Supreme Court which upheld the HC order and asked it to monitor the anti-encroachments.

PTI