NE NEWS SERVICE
HIMMATNAGAR, APRIL 27
Sending a stern warning to land encroachers on the lines of MP and UP, the civic authorities have started a demolition drive against illegal structures in Himmatnagar in Gujarat, where a communal clash had broken out during the Ram Navami celebration earlier this month, officials said on Tuesday.
Bulldozers were being used to remove encroachments in Chhapariya locality of Himmatnagar city in Sabarkantha district, they said.
The municipal corporation removed several constructions in the area amid tight security in on TP Road in Chhapariya area. Bulldozers erased five large structures, one of which was a pucca building. Officials present at the spot, however, said the owners of the pucca house had removed it on their own while the rest were removed by the civic body.
The chief officer of Himmatnagar municipality said police had been deployed in the entire area to prevent any untoward incident.
Sources said while the Himmatnagar municipality had not officially linked the stone pelting incident to a Ram Navami procession, it was conducting a drive to remove encroachment.
“The municipality has started carrying out demolition in Chhapariya locality, which is close to where the communal clash had erupted on Ram Navami. Adequate security has been deployed in the area,” Superintendent of Police Vishal Vaghela said.
A communal clash had broken out near Chhapariya area during a Ram Navami procession on April 10, when members from two communities resorted to pelting stones, leaving some people injured. Some vehicles were also set on fire during the clash.
The Anand district administration had also earlier carried out a demolition drive using bulldozers to remove structures owned by people allegedly involved in communal clashes in Khambhat town there during the Ram Navami celebration.
On April 10, a Ram Navami procession was also allegedly pelted with stones in Khambhat town. One person was killed and several others were injured in the ensuing violence.
