A TEAM of Varanasi Development Authority (VDA) carried out its demolition drive amid strong public protests at Samneghat in Varanasi on Monday. Around a dozen protesters were arrested whereas some were injured while opposing the demolition drive.
As per information, the team of VDA was on the way to carry out its demolition drive at Samneghat area under Lanka police station when a number of people blocked the road near Balaji colony, demanding the VDA officials to go back.
Meanwhile, security forces arrested around dozen of protesters.
Dr Dayashankar Mishra, Shambhunath Batul, Sant Lal Yadav, Mohitos Singh, Bhuvneshwar Dwivedi, Rais Ahmed, Rajendra Mishra, Omprakash Ojha, Ramsunder Yadav, Shardananad Pandey, Ravindra Pratap Singh, Vikram Viz were among the protesters.
Later, the team left for another destination and started demolishing an under-contruction house in Samneghat area. A large number of locals, including women reached there and tried to stop the demolition. Protestors also pelted stones whereas securitymen resorted to lathicharge on protesters.
Joint secretary of VDA KN Rai said the demolition drive was held at Samneghat area and around a dozen protesters were arrested under section 151.
{{/usCountry}}Joint secretary of VDA KN Rai said the demolition drive was held at Samneghat area and around a dozen protesters were arrested under section 151.
{{/usCountry}}It may be recalled that the Allahabad High Court had directed the VDA to demolish constructions, which were constructed after 1998 on the bank of the river within a distance of 200 metres from the bank of river.
The VDA had already identified the buildings and houses that were built after 1998 on the bank of the river in Varanasi.
A company of PAC, an Anti-Riot Van, movable force of VDA and senior officials of the VDA were part of the demolition drive team.
Meanwhile, former MLC and Congress leader Manishankar Pandey urged the VDA officials to stop the demolition drive otherwise activists of the party and locals would launch a massive protest against the VDA.