Demolition drive in Jahangirpuri stopped, situation under control: Delhi Police
New Delhi: Delhi Police Special Commissioner of Police Dependra Pathak said that the situation at the Jahangirpuri area of Delhi, where violence broke out four days ago, is completely normal and under control in the wake of demolition drive carried out by the Municipal Corporation.
“The demolition process has now been stopped and the law and order situation is under control. We’re maintaining peace and tranquility in the area,” the Special Commissioner said while speaking to the reporters.
He also said that the police in large numbers were there to only provide protection to the civic agency while they carried out the demolition process. “We have adequate deployment and we are also in touch with the citizens of the area to maintain peace,” the Special CP said.
The anti-encroachment drive began in the violence-hit Jahangirpuri area at around 10.40 am in the morning. The first demolition was of a tobacconist’s shop and then the JCB proceeded further to demolish another juice-cum-tobacco vendor next to it. A double storey scrap dealer’s shop was also razed to the ground.
However, at around 11.10 am, the news of the Supreme Court ordering status quo over the demolition drive broke out.
The JCBs continued with the drive and a 2-storey juice corner was demolished at first after a brief halt as the court’s order were not communicated in writing, said an official.
The owner of the shop kept screaming and weeping, asking for help from the mediapersons, however, within minutes his shop was also razed to the ground. “My shop has been here since 1977. Why are they not checking my papers? Why is no official coming to talk to me. My shop was allotted by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA),” asked Ganesh Kumar Gupta, owner of the Juice corner.