KARACHI: Three railways policemen were slightly injured while 20 residential units were razed to the ground during an anti-encroachment drive when residents put up stiff resistance against the operation near Chanesar Halt on Friday.

The operation was jointly carried out by the Pakistan Railways and local police.

The residents allegedly resorted to aerial firing and pelted the staff with stones, said officials and witnesses.

“An anti-encroachment operation conducted by Karachi Railways and district police near Chanesar Halt concluded on the first day despite stiff resistance in the form of firing and stone-pelting,” said a spokesperson for the railways.

As many as 20 residential units spread over 10,000 square feet have been razed to the ground by the authorities during the operation.

The officials said that these were illegal settlements that had been constructed on the right-of-way area along the tracks that would be completely uprooted.

“Three railways policemen have sustained minor injuries during the anti-encroachment operation.”

Divisional superintendent Pakistan Railways Karachi Mohammad Hanif Gul felicitated the officers and staff over their “endurance and fearless” action on the first day of the operation.

He ordered registration of an FIR against the protesters who resorted to violence during the anti-encroachment operation.

Published in Dawn, June 26th, 2021