MCD bulldozers reach Shaheen Bagh for anti-encroachment drive, Delhi Police deploys force

*Paromita Das

The first phase of the South Delhi Municipal Corporation’s anti-encroachment campaign is set to arrive in the Shaheen Bagh area today. Bulldozers will be used in the Shaheen Bagh area on May 9, according to a letter sent to the South and South East DCPs.

Illegal encroachments will be removed from Shaheen Bagh G Block to Jasola and Jasola Nala to Kalindi Kunj Park, according to the South MCD action plan.

The Delhi Police have used sufficient force to remove the encroachment in the area, which was the epicentre of anti-CAA protests and saw residents sit-in for more than three months from December 2019 to March 2020.

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“At around 11 a.m., the entire MCD team will conduct an anti-encroachment drive in Shaheen Bagh.” The police will help us with the demolition, and we are in constant contact with the officials. “We’ve been assured that police will be provided for us,” SDMC Central Zone Chairman Rajpal Singh was quoted as saying by India Today.

The anti-demolition drive in the Kalindi Kunj-Jamia Nagar area near Shaheen Bagh was postponed on May 5 due to a lack of an adequate police force. They previously denied permission for drives on April 28 in Jasola and April 29 in Okhla. Previously, authorities had to overcome obstacles in order to carry out the drive in the area.

Previously, Delhi Police stated that it was unable to provide sufficient force to assist the SDMC due to the pre-engagement of the Sarita Vihar Police Station staff and personnel in other law and order duties.

The drive, which began on May 4, will continue until May 13 in various communities, SDMC Central Zone Chairman Rajpal Singh told PTI last week. According to him, the drive will cover areas such as Shaheen Bagh main road, Kalindi Kunj, MB Road, Meharchand Market, Sriniwas Puri, and Khada Colony.

“We have devised a 10-day plan to remove encroachment from these areas, including Shaheen Bagh.” We have also requested sufficient police force to carry out the drive. “We will begin the drive on May 9 in Shaheen Bagh,” Singh told PTI.

The North Delhi Municipal Corporation’s anti-encroachment drive in the Jahangirpuri area, which resulted in violence between two communities on April 16, drew widespread criticism. The Supreme Court had to step in to halt the demolition campaign.