Hyderabad: Sparks fly as GHMC razes illegal shops after HC fiat

HYDERABAD: Tension prevailed at Garden Towers in First Lancer area, under Humayun Nagar police station limits, after Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) officials carried out demolition of illegal structures as per the high court order on Tuesday.
Police registered three cases against some people for obstructing the demolition activity and even setting the material at the site on fire to allegedly trigger communal tension.
In compliance with the order of the high court, GHMC officials demolished seven commercial shops built around a religious structure. While the demolition was on, Sha Jahangiruddin Siddiqui of First Lancer allegedly set fire to a few articles in the vicinity of the disputed property. “The accused also set ablaze a car of a local person and it suffered partial damage,” joint commissioner AR Srinivas said.
Police immediately alerted the fire department and the flames were doused quickly. Police also used mild force to disperse the mob gathered at the scene.
Aggrieved with the alleged illegal construction of Jahangiruddin, a residents welfare association had approached the high court, which recently directed GHMC to raze the illegal structures and asked police to give protection for the demolition work.
“We have registered three separate cases against the accused under Section 153A of the IPC for Promoting enmity between different groups, under Section 353 for assault or use of criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging his duty and also for setting the car of a private person on fire,” the joint commissioner said.
The demolition work and removal of debris continued till late in the evening and a police team remained at the spot to ensure that no untoward incident happens there. The accused has been taken into custody.