#Mathura effect? #Ghaziabad cops initiate anti-encroachment drive

Learning their lesson from the Mathura incident, where removing illegal occupants of Jawahar Bagh led to a bloody chapter in Uttar Pradesh’s history, the Ghaziabad police has launched a drive against illegal occupants living on government land here.

Ghaziabad Superintendent of Police (City) Salman Taj Patil said the drive launched on Sunday was to check any illegal activities run by illegal occupants in slums or concretised constructions on government properties and the effort included door to door search.

“Following the orders of the Senior Superintendent of Police, we have launched a drive. The enforcement wing of civic agencies was also roped in to demolish any pucca constructions done by these occupants on government land,” said Mr. Patil.

The drive shall be carried out in all the major areas including Vaishali, Kaushambi and Indirapuram.

“All police stations in the district have been ordered to conduct a similar drive and update the status report to my office at the earliest,” added Mr. Patil.

Rise in numbers

The police said that under the drive they are also maintaining the data of number of occupants in these slums and the nature of work they are doing and whether they have been involved in illegal trades like bootlegging or drug peddling.

Sources said that the Local Intelligence Unit (LIU) of the region had also been alarmed since 29 people died in Mathura and had been ordered to prepare a fresh report of illegal occupants living on government land, the report of which has formed the basis of the latest drive.

“We found that there was a significant rise in the number of slums in the city. It will have a possible implication on the law and order situation while the demolition or eviction drives are being conducted.

We have also alerted the Ghaziabad Development Authority about the fresh report and demanded immediate action into the matter,” said an officer posted with LIU.