12 booked for attacking MC’s anti-encroachment team

The Ludhiana police on Thursday registered a case against 12 persons who attacked the anti-encroachment team of the Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana, at Mochpura Bazaar here.

The incident occurred in the market when the team from the MC’s Zone A office was confiscating goods kept on the road by shopkeepers. The attack was unexpected as the team was conducting a routine drive to clear encroachments from the area but the situation escalated when shopkeepers’ goods were seized and the latter turned furious.

Tehbazari Inspector Vipin Handa said the drive was part of a broader initiative to remove obstacles from roads and marketplaces during the foggy weather season.

Though most shopkeepers cooperated during the drive, a few resisted violently, attacking the team’s vehicle and assaulting municipal staff and police personnel. The situation turned ugly when the officials started confiscating goods, prompting some shopkeepers to attack the MC vehicle, loot it, and use sharp objects to assault the team members. Two municipal employees were injured and rushed to the Civil Hospital. Despite the disruptions, Handa vowed that anti-encroachment operations would be continued in coming days.

The suspects were identified as Manoj Garg, Ashok Kumar, owner of RK Shawl and Hosiery and nine unidentified assailants. A case was registered on the complaint of Sunil Kumar Beldar, an employee of the MC’s Zone A office.