HYDERABAD: Amid violence involving shopkeepers and activists of a political party on Tuesday, the civil administration and anti-encroachment staff had to discontinue an anti-encroachment operation started in the morning at the general bus stand, known as Badin stop.

While the demolition of illegally raised structures was under way, some people pelted anti-encroachment staff with stones. Firing was also resorted to by someone and one person sustained superficial bullet wounds, reports from the area suggested. The wounded man was identified as Tahir, a worker of a nearby hotel.

The drive was supervised by Latifabad Assistant Commissioner Fatima Saima. Rangers and police personnel were assisting officials of the civil administration. Police detained two suspects, Nasir and Awami National Party’s district president Javed Khan, for causing disturbances. Nasir was accused of resorting to firing.

Local ANP leaders claimed that they possessed the ownership documents of the property housing the party’s office. Some shops were also built on the premises. They resisted demolition of the property.

In 2017, when ANP leader Aurangzeb Khan was alive, a similar operation was launched by the then administration. Several shops in the area were demolished. But when it came to the demolition of the ANP office along with existing shops, the operation was stopped.

As resistance continued, AC Saima had to discontinue the operation and told the administration staff to leave the area. She is said to have called the claimants to her office for talks.

The administration claimed that the structures stood on government’s land meant for the general bus stand. The occupants, however, disagreed with the claim.

Tuesday’s operation was started to demolish the same property which triggered protest and violence.

Angry protesters gathered in front of the heavy machinery to be used for demolition causing obstructions in the drive. They manhandled anti-encroachment staff of the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation. Some protesters pelted the staff with stones.

When firing took place, more contingents of police and HMC Administrator Altaf Hussain rushed to the spot. The drive was resumed and some structures were demolished.

The residents again protested, hampering the drive. To avoid any further unpleasant incident, the AC stopped the operation.

ANP leader Anwar Zaib Khan said the property in question belonged to him. He said he possessed the documents and registry along with a layout plan. He said that on Tuesday, he produced the documents to the AC along with a court order. But some portions of his property were demolished, causing losses to him. He said ANP activists had protested against detention of Javed Khan and Nasir. Javed was let off but Nasir was shifted to some unknown destination.

Published in Dawn, September 22nd, 2021