Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, April 20: The anti-encroachment action in Delhi’s Jahangirpuri neighbourhood began on Wednesday morning with the deployment of a large number of police and paramilitary officers. The drive comes four days after violent conflicts between two communities in the area, involving reported stone pelting, burning, and gunfire during a Hanuman Jayanti parade.
A bulldozer can be seen tearing down what appear to be roadside food stalls and shops in a video released by news agency ANI. The bulldozer was encircled by members of the public, and police officers were seen attempting to maintain control of the situation.
#WATCH North Delhi Municipal Corporation conducts anti-encroachment drive in Jahangirpuri in Delhi
The civic body has asked for 400 personnel from Delhi Police to maintain the law & order situation during the drive in the area pic.twitter.com/KViPfwPEqr
— ANI (@ANI) April 20, 2022
In a separate video posted by ANI, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) North West Usha Rangnani was seen assessing the area ahead of the two-day eviction effort. The operation came a day after Delhi BJP chairman Adesh Gupta wrote to the party-run North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) requesting that the NDMC locate “rioters'” illegal constructions in Jahangirpuri and demolish them with bulldozers, according to news agency PTI.
The NDMC had asked at least 400 security officers from the Delhi Police on Tuesday in order to maintain law and order during the eviction campaign.