SURAT — In clear violation of the recent Supreme Court observations against “bulldozer justice,” authorities in Gujarat’s Surat city have launched a demolition drive in Syedpura area which witnessed stone pelting on Ganesh Pandal on Sunday.
The Surat District Police initiated a demolition drive on Monday, targeting what they claimed were illegal encroachments in the area. The authorities, however, clarified that the anti-encroachment drive was not linked to the rioting as it was planned weeks in advance.
The Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) deployed bulldozers in the area to raze illegal concrete and temporary constructions.
The municipal body also removed handcarts of street vendors in the area.
Surat Deputy Mayor Narendra Patil said that the anti-encroachment drive had been planned some two weeks ago, and was not the outcome of the Sunday’s clash.
Tension gripped Syedpura as residents, angered by the alleged stone pelting, took to the streets, demanding immediate action against those responsible.
This story was originally published in clarionindia.net. Read the full story here.
