M A I N   N E W S

DSP injured in demolition drive
Tribune News Service

The trouble started when after demolition residents started reconstruction of the mazaar in Bhargo Camp and the corporation staff and bulldozers, led by the Mayor and a few police officials reached the Bhargo Camp locality at around 6 a.m. to raze it to the ground. Though they succeeded in their effort, but it sparked off protests from residents who converged there in large numbers and started throwing stones at the Mayor and accompanying officials, forcing them to retreat.

As the Mayor and three councillors left the place residents, mostly youth confronted police officials and attacked them with stones and petrol bombs.

Meanwhile, a section of the mob also attacked the Bhargo Camp police post with bricks and stones, giving tough time to two police officials present. Harjit Singh and Jagir Singh, the two constables who were in the police post at the time of the attack said a group of 50-60 persons attacked them, forcing them to take positions in.“ We were saved by a police party which reached here as part of enforcement and which scared away the rioting youths,” said Jagir Singh.

Earlier, clashes were also witnessed between police officials led by SPs Amar Singh Chahl, P.K Uppal, Amit Prasad and Nilabh Kishore and hundreds of Balmiki youth. While the police exercised restraint and canecharged rioters, youths on the other hand, pelted stones and threw petrol-filled bottles on police officials from inside streets along the 1-km stretch of Jalandhar-Nakodar road.

Apprehending damage, shopkeepers kept the shutters of their establishment down for the most part of the day. The situation was brought under control only after police enforcement reached the spot and repulsed the attack effectively. Except for Mr Chanchal Singh none was injured in the incident.

Mr Chanchal Singh, DSP, who received head injuries after he was cornered by mob was admitted to a private hospital.

Meanwhile, the incident has sparked off a row between the district administration and the MC authorities with the Mayor and the police levelling allegations against one another. While the Mayor alleged that the police did not reach the spot in time, the police authorities maintained that they were not informed about the incident in advance, which led to deteriorating of the situation.

Addressing a press conference at his residence, Mr Sehgal alleged that though the district administration was informed about the drive in advance, police officials came on the scene only at 9.30 a.m. “I had talked to the SSP and the DC at around 6 a.m. and informed them about the situation prevailing in parts of the city where drive was carried out.” On the other hand Mr Amar Singh Chahl, SP (city), said he got a call from the Mayor at around 8.25 a.m. and he had reached the Bhargo Camp within five to ten minutes and no prior information was given to the police by the MC authorities. Mr Suresh Sehgal said the administration had been apprised of the MC decision to carry out the drive in advance through a letter to the DC. Mr Krishan Kumar, SDM-I said the foul play was on the part of the MC and had administration been apprised of the demolition drive in advance proper arrangements could have been made to ensure peaceful removal of illegal structures.

Mr Sehgal said it was his resolve to remove all illegal structures and encroachments from different parts of the city. “Come what may we will not spare any encroachment even if it is in the shape of a religious place belonging to any community.” Asked what prompted him to go ahead with the drive, Mr Sehgal said he had decided to launch the drive after he came to know that certain people were planning to install an idol in the temple soon in the MC office promise.

Mr Sehgal said Mr Balwinder Singh a building inspector of the MC, has been suspended for laxity against encroachers. Mr Bidhi Chand, Commissioner MC said the DC had been informed about the MC plan to carry out the drive some time back, but he had said that adequate force was not available for it.

Meanwhile, the Punjab Pradesh Mahila Congress today condemned the demolition of mazaars and alleged the demolition had been carried out as part of the RSS conspiracy against minorities.

Ms Kittu Grewal, general secretary of the Mahila Congress, said the MC adopted a pick and choose policy while undertaking demolition of mazaars. She said though a number of religious places have come up in the city but only mazaars were made its target by the corporation staff. She said if such drive had to be launched it should have been launched in all parts of the city.