MC team attacked during anti-encroachment drive
A team of the Estate Wing of the Amritsar Municipal Corporation was reportedly attacked by a group of individuals attempting to obstruct them from discharging official duties during an anti-encroachment drive in Chheharta area here on Thursday. The incident occurred during a scheduled operation to clear illegal encroachments from the footpath near DK Cement Store.
The joint operation, led by officials from the Civil Wing and the Estate Wing, was being carried out. MC officials, including Junior Engineer Arun Kumar, Sub-Inspector Harpal Singh, Estate Officer Dharminderjit Singh and several field staff and labourers were present on the spot.
The team began its drive from Putlighar Chowk and proceeded towards Chheharta Chowk. When they reached near DK Cement Store, they started removing construction materials like bricks, sand, and gravel, illegally dumped on the footpath. The MC team used a ditch machine, started loading the building material onto a tipper truck. Suddenly, a mob of 15-20 people gathered at the site and reportedly attacked the MC team.
Senior MC officials claimed that Daljit Kumar, owner of DK Cement Store, and Shivji, owner of a nearby grocery shop, were leading the group. Along with unidentified individuals, they attacked the MC team, disrupted the operation, and allegedly misbehaved with officials, including police personnel.
During the scuffle, miscreants reportedly pelted stones at the official vehicle (Gypsy) of the Estate Officer, damaging both the left and rear view mirrors. The officer had a narrow escape.
In response, the Amritsar Municipal Corporation formally requested the Police Commissioner that an FIR be registered against shop owners and unidentified persons involved in the attack.
Jai Inder Singh, Joint Commissioner of MC, demanded to register a case for obstruction of government work, verbal abuse of government officials, and intentional damage to public property.
The request for legal action has been forwarded to the Assistant Commissioner of Police (West) and the Station House Officer (SHO) of the Chheharta police station for necessary proceedings.
Amritsar