KARACHI: Two policemen and as many officials of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation were injured in attacks by land grabbers on Friday morning when the government launched an anti-encroachment operation in Saddar.

The law enforcers also caught at least five culprits for resisting the operation against encroachments in the vicinity of the Empress Market.

The KMC and police came under attack as soon as they launched the operation. As they managed to prevail with the land grabbers fleeing, the officials razed the illegal structures.

During the operation, which will continue for three days, vendors operating from the roads and footpaths were dislodged and their goods removed. The goods were shifted by 10 trucks to the KMC store. The illegally occupied portions of footpaths by the stall holders and shops were also removed with the help of machinery.

The illegal stalls in the Saddar area were not only a cause of traffic congestion and jams but also hindered movement of pedestrians.

Published in Dawn, December 20th, 2014