HYDERABAD, Sept 23: Residents of Halepoto village off the National Highway blocked a section of the highway on Sunday to protest against alleged demolition of their houses by police.

The villagers, including women, were protesting against their forced eviction from the village by the police. They said that land of the village belonged to them but it was being occupied by some investors. A heavy contingent of police reached the place of the protest and cleared the highway for vehicular traffic.

Seventy-four acres of land in the jurisdiction of the Hatri police are said to be a disputed property. The Halepotos claimed that 18 acres of the 74 acres belonged to them.

The land involves litigation between the two parties. The Hatri police said that it has been sold to different parties in the past and the investors, including Nanak Ram, also lay claim over it.