New Delhi, Jan 12 (IANS) The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) demolished an illegal religious structure in south Delhi’s Jangpura area Wednesday morning, sparking protests by members of a community against whom police used force and tear gas shells, an official said.
The protesters blocked the entry gate of the Hazrat Nizamuddin police station and tried to enter the illegal religious structure whose demolition began at 6 a.m.
Over 1,000 people blocked roads in the area during the demolition. Police used tear gas shells and force to disperse them when they tried to enter the illegal religious structure and offer prayers.
‘They gathered outside the police station and marched towards the demolition spot. They were prevented from approaching the spot, following which they broke the barricades and tried to enter the premises,’ a senior police official said.
‘We had to resort to lobbing teargas shells and using some force,’ he said.
According to DDA spokesperson Neemo Dhar: ‘We have all the clearances to demolish the religious structure. Last year, we had tried four times in the month of February, March, May and September but due to inadequate police force we could not carry out the demolition.’
‘The court gave us an order for demolition of the illegal construction on DDA land,’ Dhar said.
‘A slum and this structure had come up on DDA land. We had cleared the slums earlier but did not touch the structure as we needed a clearance from the committee looking into demolition of such structures,’ she added.
