Ahmedabad

Windows of several vehicles were broken by a group of locals in Juhapura area of Ahmedabad city today following Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation(AMC)’s demolition drive against illegal buildings here.

Generally, any demolition drive against illegal construction attracts some protest by local people. When Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation team decided to go on demolition drive in sensitive Juhapura area it was expecting some protest. A huge police force was therefore called in advance. Ahmedabad Rural SP himself was present during the demolition drive.

AMC officials said they had completed all legal procedure before starting the demolition. They said demolition of five storeyed residential cum commercial buildings started today will take some time to complete.

Locals protesting the drive broke down glasses of 108 ambulance van, police jeep, AMTS bus and also tried to torch AMC machinery. Traffic on Fatehwadi road which connects Juhapura to Sarkhej was diverted for some time due to these incidents.

Police had to detain some of the locals trying to create disturbance. Light lathicharge was also done to control the crowds.

The AMC has list of over 120 illegal buildings and all will be demolished one-by-one, sources said.

Meanwhile a group of Muslim Councillors of Congress party joined by few city Congress leaders and MLA Gyasuddin Sheikh sat on dharna for sometime outside the Municipal Commissioner’s bungalow protesting demolition. Speaking to media persons they asked, “where was the municipal corporation when entire building was constructed?”

Details of man/machine power: Zone deputy TDOs on duty, fire brigade, 20 trucks, 4 JCB machines, 4 breaker, 10 cutter, 180 labourers, more than 200 police men

-DeshGujarat