Traders attack team on NGT-directed sealing drive, 30 hurt
TNN | Updated: Apr 14, 2019, 08:13 ISTCops patrol Mayapuri on Saturday
NEW DELHI: More than 30 people were injured in west Delhi’s Mayapuri industrial area on Saturday morning when shopkeepers clashed with a team of officials sent to seal illegal scrap units, in compliance with a National Green Tribunal (NGT) order.
The area was tense since early morning as 800-odd shopkeepers and workers sat on the road to prevent a Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) team from sealing their units. DPCC had issued notices to 765 units on Friday to deposit Rs 50 lakh each as environment compensation charges.
Around 10.30am, a joint team of DPCC and the municipal corporation started the sealing drive in block C of the industrial area. They had sealed six shops despite resistance when the stone-pelting started.
“The attack was sudden and without provocation,” a police officer present on the scene told TOI. The mob pressed on although three companies of Delhi Police and two of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) were present to protect the sealing team. “The cops standing at the front were hit with stones.”
As the police drew back, the mob damaged parked vehicles. Mobile videos of the incident show the locals charging at police and paramilitary personnel before they were dispersed with a lathi-charge.
Delhi Police said 14 people, including an SDM, members of the DPCC team and some policemen, including an assistant commissioner of police, were injured on their side. About 20 locals were also reportedly hospitalised with injuries.
The area was tense since early morning as 800-odd shopkeepers and workers sat on the road to prevent a Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) team from sealing their units. DPCC had issued notices to 765 units on Friday to deposit Rs 50 lakh each as environment compensation charges.
Around 10.30am, a joint team of DPCC and the municipal corporation started the sealing drive in block C of the industrial area. They had sealed six shops despite resistance when the stone-pelting started.
“The attack was sudden and without provocation,” a police officer present on the scene told TOI. The mob pressed on although three companies of Delhi Police and two of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) were present to protect the sealing team. “The cops standing at the front were hit with stones.”
As the police drew back, the mob damaged parked vehicles. Mobile videos of the incident show the locals charging at police and paramilitary personnel before they were dispersed with a lathi-charge.
Delhi Police said 14 people, including an SDM, members of the DPCC team and some policemen, including an assistant commissioner of police, were injured on their side. About 20 locals were also reportedly hospitalised with injuries.
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