VIDEO: Stones pelted at police in Lucknow’s Akbar Nagar as clashes erupt during demolition drive
Clashes rocked Akbar Nagar locality in capital Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, on Sunday evening as locals threw stones at police and government officials during an anti-encroachment drive in the locality.
Uttar Pradesh News: Tension gripped Akbar Nagar in the capital Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, as residents reportedly clashed with police and administrative staff carrying out an anti-encroachment drive in the locality.
According to officials, local residents pelted stones at police and government officials after rumors spread that someone was trapped under the rubble of a building razed by authorities.
According to reports, the alleged incident took place on Sunday evening when a team of the Lucknow Development Authority and the government, accompanied by police, were demolishing illegal structures in the locality along Faizabad Road.
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“Three commercial establishments were demolished after the Supreme Court dismissed the writ petitions. While two buildings were being demolished, local residents – spurred on by rumors – started pelting government officials and police with stones during the demolition of the third,” Indramani Tripathi, vice-chairman of the Lucknow Development Authority, told news agency PTI, adding that no one was injured. at the incident.
Situation under control
Giving details, Tripathi said some residents said the debris from the demolished buildings damaged their houses and they were allotted houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.
“Some locals said the debris from the demolished buildings damaged their buildings following which seven people were allotted houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana,” Tripathi said, adding that the situation is under control.
Around 74 BPL card holders from Akbar Nagar had filed a petition in the Supreme Court, seeking a stay on the development authority’s devastating action.
The action was carried out because the slum was allegedly created illegally on government land. There are approximately 1,400 houses in the slum.
Tripathi said there is an attempt to destroy commercial establishments and not residential ones as per the Supreme Court directive.
Last week, the Allahabad High Court had directed all residents to vacate the disputed premises on or before March 31.
Joint Commissioner of Police Upendra Agarwal said a rumor was doing the rounds that someone had become trapped under the rubble during the demolition drive, prompting some people to pelt stones.
The situation has been brought under control, he said, adding that no FIR has been registered in this regard.
BJP’s ‘Awas Vinash Yojana’
Earlier, Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav had attacked the BJP government over the destitute conditions of Akbar Nagar residents.
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“This is the BJP’s ‘Awas Vinash Yojna (home destruction plan)’. The families of the devastated Akbar Nagar of Lucknow want to say something. Only those who have families can understand the pain of these families,” Yadav said in a post on X.
(With PTI inputs)