24 people, including Noida SSP hurt; residents vow to continue 'struggle'
24 people, includingu00a0 Noida SSP hurt; residents vow to continue 'struggle'
Noida witnessed a war-like situation on Tuesday as an angry mob pelted the police with stones when the latter had gone to remove encroachment from a piece of land at Sector 126.
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In the line of stones: Bakhtawarpur locals hurled stones at cops while protesting the anti-encroachment drive.
PIC/IMTIYAZ KHAN |
At least 24 people were injured in the clash at the Bakhtawarpur village, which is close to the expressway highway.
The land belongs to the Noida authority. According to police, the authority had already sent several notices to locals to shift to other places.
"Villagers did not leave even after they were compensated. We were left with no option," said Deep Chandra, Authority Revenue Officer, Noida.
As soon as the police, accompanied by Noida authority officials began the anti-encroachment drive, more than a hundred strong mob gathered at the site.u00a0 The pelted the cops and officials with stones and bricks. Ashok Tripathi, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Anil Ramania, in charge of Sector-39 police station, were among those injured who were rushed to the nearby hospital.
The police had to fire in the air and resort to lathicharge to disperse the agitated mob.
"We are not going to tolerate any kind of anti-social activity. Around 16 villagers have been taken into custody in connection with violence and others also will not be spared. The way Noida police handled the situation is commendable," said Ashok Tripathi, Noida SSP.
However, the miffed locals are ready for bloodshed, claiming Bakhtawarpur as their motherland. Rakesh Kumar, a resident of the area, said, "Noida authority is trying to grab our land by paying nominal amount to some of the residents. We will never leave our motherland. This land has given us everything."
