At Azad Maidan, 52 shanties cleared
Mumbai, August 24: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Thursday demolished 52 illegal encroachments on Azad Maidan, following the Bombay High Court order given last Wednesday.
At 10.30 am, the BMC started clearing the ground with help from 35 labourers, two JCBs, four dumpers, 15 police officers, 100 police constables and 30 female constables. However, after the civic authorities faced opposition from the 150-odd people—mostly members of the National Alliance of People’s Movement (NAPM)—living in the shanties, the police arrested 70 protestors.
‘‘We are not encroachers, but protestors fighting for our rights,’’ said NAPM convener Mukta Srivastava.
But A-Ward Officer Vijay Balamwar, who was conducting the demolitions, said they were only following the court’s orders.
URL- http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=198343