Locals stage a protest in front of a Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) bulldozer at Shaheen Bagh area during an anti-encroachment drive, in New Delhi. Pic/PTI
Following the protest, the SDMC officials, who were part of the anti-encroachment drive, returned with bulldozers without conducting the exercise, an official said
However, the situation remains tense as the area is jam packed with hundreds of people moving around. Police, along with para military forces, could also be seen moving forward
Protesters raised slogans against the BJP-ruled South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) as well as the central government and demanded that the action should be stopped. Some women protestors also stood in front of bulldozers to prevent the exercise
Once the bulldozers rolled in, supporters of the Congress and AAP, including Okhla MLA Amanatullah Khan, reached the area. Khan said he had got all illegal structures in the area removed and there are none now
Even the locals said that all the illegal structures in the area were already removed by the people just a few days back
Notably, Monday's demolition drive comes 19 days after a similar drive was conducted in the communal violence-hit Jahangirpuri area of the city. In that drive, several illegal structures, including cold drink booths and shops, were demolished
Supreme Court agrees to hear today at 2 pm, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) plea against the demolition of buildings in the South Delhi's Shaheen Bagh area
The SDMC has reportedly prepared a 10-day action plan to remove encroachment from several areas, including Shaheen Bagh
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