MCG officers, cops attacked at demolition drive, 10 injured

GURGAON: An MCG anti-encroachment team came under attack at Sarai Alawardi village on Tuesday, leaving at least 10 people, including the joint commissioner of the civic body and eight policemen, injured. Ten people, seven of them women, were arrested. A case was also filed against more than 100 unidentified protesters.
The demolition drive was carried out after the Punjab and Haryana high court passed evacuation orders for a 300-square-yard area around the shrine for restoration of the 400-year-old Alawardi Masjid.The drives to raze illegal structures started in August and is being carried out in phases.
The team, along with 300-plus cops, reached the spot at noon and demolished some houses, sparking rumours that they would break all structures there. That triggered protests with protesters throwing stones at officials.
Police booked more than 100 unidentified protesters based on a complaint by Sanjeev Singla, tehsildar of Gurgaon and duty magistrate. The 10 people arrested were produced in a city court in afternoon and were sent to judicial custody.
According to the complaint filed by Singla, protesters climbed on to rooftops and started throwing stones at the squad comprising officials and policemen. Additional reinforcements were called to help disperse the crowd. "There were some mischievous elements in the crowd who instigated others, who went out of control and attacked us. We were following court orders," said Singla in his complaint.
A senior police officer confirmed that in the attack MCG joint commissioner Rohit Yadav, inspector Sandeep Kumar, SHO, Palam Vihar police station, ASI Ramniwas, constables Mahender, Praveen, Amit and others were injured. They were taken to a private hospital for treatment and were later said to be out of danger.
"Based on the complaint of the duty magistrate, an FIR has been registered under sections 147, 148 & 149 (rioting), 353 (assault), 332 (voluntarily causing hurt), 186 (obstructing public servant), 188 (disobeying order by public servant), 427 (mischief causing damage), and 506 (threat to kill) of IPC and 10 people were arrested and sent to judicial custody," said Deepak Saharan, DCP (West), Gurgaon.
The arrested people were identified as Raja Mohammad, Hasrat, Isthar, Ayesha, Nazima, Sahana Begum, Shamim, Shabnam, Fahim Begum and Ruksar.