10 injured in clash during anti-encroachment drive in Kota

Over 10 people, including policemen and mediapersons, were injured Tuesday while two vehicles set afire when clashes broke out between encroachers and the enforcement squad in Rajasthan's Kota city, police said.

The encroachers attacked the encroachment squad, accompanied by a police team, at Awali Rojadi and Nayagaun in Mukundra Vihar extension under the RK Puram police station in the Kota city, they said.

Police said the accused also set afire a JCB machine belonging to the encroachment squad of the Urban Infrastructure Trust (UIT) and a mediaperson's motorbike during the drive in the area where the UIT is set to launch its housing scheme.

They said several people had illegally occupied and constructed homes over about 18 to 20 bigas of land worth crores of rupees in the area.

While the encroachment squad was carrying out the drive in Awanli Rojadi and Nayagaun area, the illegal dwellers assembled and started pelting stones at the squad and the police team, they said.

In retaliation, police used lathicharge and tear gas shells to disperse the crowd, leading to a stampede-like situation.

The situation is now under control and process to lodge a case against the accused in the matter is underway, circle in charge, RK Puram police station, Om Prakesh said, adding the names of the accused would be disclosed once the process is over.

UIT encroachment squad accompanied by police team had reached to remove encroachment over 18 to 20 bigas of land in Mukundra Vihar extension where UIT is set to launch housing scheme where the illegal dwellers attacked the squad, said UIT secretary Anandi Lal Vashnav.

The locals had constructed houses and erected makeshift tents there. They were earlier convinced for the removal of their construction, he said.

The encroachments on the land were removed later in the evening with the help of police force, the secretary said, adding that a complaint in connection with the attack over the squad was lodged at the R K Puram police station.