Ujjain: Following murder of a devotee in Mahakaleshwar Temple area, the administration demolished 25 illegal shops during a demolition drive on Wednesday. Most of these illegal shops are owned by anti-social elements. On Wednesday, a team of Ujjain Municipal Corporation (UMC) reached the temple premises.
Collector Manish Singh had asked such shopkeepers to remove their shops willingly. While a few complied with the order, others refused to budge. The UMC team was accompanied by a large police force. UMC officials said that around 10 to 15 feet of road from Bhasmaarti gate to pravachan hall was occupied by illegal kiosk. Officials also found out that a few kiosk owners had rented out space ahead of their allotted shops to vendors. The latter placed their counters in the space and paid rent at the rate of Rs 500 per day. All such counters were removed.
Meanwhile a few shopkeepers vented their ire at the district administration. They claimed to have paid huge amount and rent to principal encroachers. However, heavy police bandobast deterred them from taking law into hands. Collector said that the vacated land will be used to provide ease to devotees.