Peddlers’ houses razed near Sanauri Adda amid opposition

The police a6long with Municipal Corporation (MC) and Public Works Department (PWD), launched a joint anti-encroachment drive near Sanauri Adda, targeting four illegal constructions owned by alleged drug traffickers.

The coordinated action focused on clearing unauthorised structures in a slum area near Sanauri Adda, which had reportedly become a hub for illegal activities including drug smuggling. The drive involved demolition of illegally constructed houses, removal of encroachments and impounding of vehicles parked without authorisation

Sharing details, Superintendent of Police (SP) Palwinder Singh Cheema said the action was taken after receiving credible inputs that the accused who are facing multiple cases of drug peddling have amassed wealth and built lavish houses by encroaching upon the land. He said the drive was part of a broader initiative by Patiala authorities to curb criminal activity, reclaim public land and improve urban infrastructure.

The action unfolded on Friday morning, heavy police deployment was seen near Rori Kutt Mohalla at Sanauri Adda. As soon as the police teams reached the locality, residents began gathering.

When they were informed about the demolition, many started opposing the police action. During this, a youth poured fuel on himself and threatened to self-immolate. A little while later, the youth climbed the rooftop and again threatened to jump, but was eventually brought down.

Meanwhile, the police marked houses that had been built on government land by drug traffickers and placed household items from inside on the roadside. One by one, four houses were demolished using JCB machines.

During the demolition drive, the police and the Municipal Corporation faced stiff resistance from residents, who tried to stop the teams from moving forward but failed. The affected families alleged that the local politician had deliberately targeted them. They claimed that while there were several other illegal constructions in the area, no action had ever been taken against those.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Satnam Singh said that six to eight drug trafficking cases were registered against residents Shamma, Salim, Bablu, and Deepak.

They had illegally constructed houses on government land, which were demolished. Encroachments had also been made on park and PWD land, and similar action would be taken against such structures in the coming days. He added that the police had prepared a list of habitual drug traffickers, and encroachments made on government land were being verified by concerned departments, after which legal action was taken. Adequate police force was deployed to ensure security during the operation.