A team of four revenue officers and five policemen faced stone-pelting as they tried to evict 50 families who had encroached upon two acres of government land in Keshava Nagar, Gowlidoddi, near Gachibowli.
The land was earmarked for the two-bedroom housing scheme of the State government. The property, which falls under survey No 37/2, had the presence of close to 200 people when the officials reached the spot. As the team led by S. Jyothi, tehsildar of land protection, Ranga Reddy district, along with some male revenue officers, instructed the families to move, the crowd raised objection, resulting in a heated argument. Soon, some members of the group started throwing stones and also tried to throw chilli power at the officers. As police personnel rushed to the rescue of the revenue officers, the crowd retreated, only to pelt stones again.
The situation was brought under control in an hour after a reinforcement of 15 police officials was brought to the spot. Speaking to The Hindu, Ms. Jyothi said, “We had informed the encroachers through word of mouth that they would be evicted. We did not expect resistance but the police officers handled the situation well”.
The encroachers were mostly migrant labourers, who had moved here from Karnataka and parts of Telangana. “None of the revenue officers suffered injuries although some police personnel were injured as they tried to protect us,” Ms. Jyothi said.
According to the Gachibowli police, three persons were injured in the incident. Seven persons led by M. V. Gnanendra were booked under IPC Sections 148 (rioting, armed with weapons), 149 (unlawful assembly) and 353 (use of criminal force), among others.
A total of 24 other residents led by Karireddy Bhasker were held under CrPC Section 151 (preventive detention).
After eviction of encroachers, the revenue officials demolished all illegal structures on the plot, Ms. Jyothi confirmed.
In yet another incident, GHMC Town Planning officials were attacked by hooligans when they tried to stop illegal construction of a building at Gopal Nagar of Kukatpally division. Two chain-men were seriously injured in the incident, sources said.
Two months ago, GHMC Vigilance and Enforcement staff had demolished a building constructed without permissions. A section officer of the Town Planning wing was suspended and another official was transferred in this regard.
The builder approached the court, seeking status quo against demolition, which was granted. However, acting on a tip-off that the builder was continuing the construction in violation of the status quo, a team of GHMC officials went to the site to stop the construction.
The team was allegedly attacked with sticks. A complaint was lodged with the Miyapur police.
