Jahangirpuri Demolition Drive Continued Due To Absence Of Written Order From SC: Civic Official

The drive continued because of the absence of a written order from the apex court.

Delhi Police personnel stand guard during a joint anti-encroachment drive in Jahangirpuri area. (Image: PTI)

New Delhi: The demolition drive in riot-hit Jahangirpuri continued due to absence of written order from the Supreme Court, said a civic official.

The anti-encroachment drive continued for one-and-a-half hours even after the Supreme Court directed authorities to stop it, PTI reported.

The drive continued because of the absence of a written order from the apex court.

A civic official, who informed this requesting anonymity, added that it was stopped as soon as the order was received.

Earlier on Wednesday, bulldozers razed several structures in violence-hit Jahangirpuri during an anti-encroachment drive by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC).

It was, however, stopped following a Supreme Court order.

The Supreme Court had directed the apex court secretary-general to convey the earlier order to stop demolition in the riots-hit Jahangirpuri area to the NDMC Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh and the Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana with immediate effect.

An apex court bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana, in the forenoon, ordered the stopping of the drive.

He also agreed to hear a petition, which challenged the civic bodies action allegedly aimed against the accused of the communal offences.

The bulldozers were seen razing structures near a mosque in Jahangirpuri’s C Block where violence had erupted earlier on April 16. This took place despite the apex court's directions.

Meanwhile, heavy police and paramilitary forces were deployed ahead of the drive.

The security forces were carrying out a flag march in the area, said officials, adding they took stock of the situation before the drive was launched. A drone has also been deployed to monitor the situation.

Earlier on Saturday, the area witnessed violent clashes, including stone pelting, arson and firing, between two communities during a Hanuman Jayanti procession.

At least eight police personnel and a local resident sustained injuries in the untoward incident.