After the Chandni Chowk Vyapar Mandal made an urgent mention about disturbance in the area before the Delhi High Court, a Division Bench on Wednesday directed the police to take all necessary steps to avoid further disturbance of law and order. The Court also called for a status report on the situation.
An eviction drive against encroachments in Chandni Chowk undertaken jointly by the Shahjahanabad Redevelopment Corporation, North Delhi Municipal Corporation and Delhi Police on Wednesday morning led to protests after a drinking water kiosk near a religious place was allegedly dismantled. The authorities were carrying out a March 28 direction of the Court to remove illegal encroachments, including unauthorised religious structures, in the Walled City within two weeks.
Bringing the matter to the Court’s notice, even as the situation in Chandni Chowk remained tense, counsel for the Mandal said an unruly mob had resorted to stone throwing in response to the demolition drive and targeted the shop of traders’ body general secretary Sanjay Bhargava. “This is a serious situation. I request the Court to call for records of police and MCD, and give directions for protecting Mr. Bhargava and his shop, which has sustained some damage,” said the counsel. The Bench posted the matter for hearing on Thursday.
