An unruly mob in the town of Meerut resorted to vandalism to hinder a joint anti-encroachment drive led by the Cantonment Board and the police. The Meerut police had to recourse to lathi charge in order to contain the mob that set ablaze 10 private vehicles and 8 UP Roadways buses during their protest.
In the Bhusa Mandi area under the jurisdiction of Sadar police station area of Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, on March 6, 2019, the anti-encroachment drive resulted in people protesting against the Cantonment Board and the police team which had gone to demolish illegal constructions. Not only this, the fierce mob beat the police team, snatched their equipment and weapons.
The mob reportedly also pelted stones. A fire ensued and about 200 huts in the slum were engulfed in the fire. As per reports, some locals objecting to the anti-encroachment drive had spread the rumour that the police team had demolished a religious place, following which, the mob became violent.
Police superintendent Akhilesh Narain Singh claimed that fearing that the situation may get out of control, the police resorted to mild lathi-charge. In this case, Prashad Chavan, CEO of Cantonment board has lodged a case against 250 people, including Nasim, Samar, Mumtaz, Rahsudin, residing in the Maseran area. In addition, 7 people were also detained. It is being told that many people including Cantonment board Supervisor Rajkumar and several other policemen have been reportedly injured.
According to some news reports, there are a large number of houses and huts in the Bhusa Mandi area built over encroached land. The clashes had started after the police team and cantonment board officials went there to demolish houses built on encroached land. Initially, the police team had pacified the agitators but soon, a large mob reportedly rushed in to attack the policemen.
After it, the angry mob thrashed an employee of the Cantonment Board. As the commotion intensified, the Sadar police reached the place. A large number of goats have also perished in the fire. The entire district police-administrative staff, including DM-SSP, rushed to the spot and tried to douse the fire.
