SMC team attacked during razing

Surat: Stones were pelted on a team of Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) officials when they went to remove encroachments from a sports ground of a school on Monday. One security person of SMC suffered injury in the head and had to take four stitches. Two others suffered minor injuries.
The SMC team sealed the premises where an unauthorised market had been set up on the ground of Navsarjan School in Pandesara area. The team was leaving the spot after sealing when stones were pelted at them from the terrace of nearby building.
The market had resumed operating after remaining closed for about two weeks following SMC notice. On Monday, a team from Udhna zone went to seal the market after receiving complaints from locals.
“The ground was part of a housing board colony in the past and it was later handed over to the school following their request. In the recent past, the market started on the ground and the traders were allotted shops by collecting rent,” said a Udhna zone official.
SMC issued a notice and the market was closed. “It started operating again on weekends. Hence, the SMC team had gone to seal it,” an official said.
Residents had raised multiple complaints in the past about the encroachment in public places around the Housing Board colony in Pandesara. SMC carries out encroachment removal drives in the area at regular intervals.