Protest in Shaheen Bagh, bulldozer retreats

NEW DELHI: The South Municipal Corporation's move to demolish the illegal encroachments in Shaheen Bagh using bulldozers was stopped following the protest of the people. The South Municipal Corporation has been cracking down on illegal encroachments even after a controversy erupted over the eviction drive in Jahangirpuri in north Delhi two weeks ago. The South Municipal Corporation said that evacuation will continue today at New Friends Colony near Shaheen Bagh.

Local residents of Shaheen Bagh started the protest soon after bulldozers rolled into the area for the anti-encroachment drive. Several people, led by MLA Amanatullah Khan, sat on the roads and stopped the bulldozers as the demolition drive began with assistance provided by Delhi Police.

Amanatullah said all encroachments in the area had already been removed and the action of the authorities was politically motivated.

"Wazu Khana' and toilets outside a mosque here were removed in presence of police, earlier. When there are no encroachments, why have they come here? Just to do politics?" the AAP MLA said.

Khan further alleged that the MCD is carrying out the drive to "disturb the atmosphere". "When I removed all the encroachments, then the MCD has come to disturb the atmosphere. Why else have they come? If there is any encroachment in my constituency, tell me, I will remove it," he said.