FAISALABAD, Nov 29: Samundari police on Saturday baton-charged and tear-gassed people and injured five of them when they staged a demonstration and blocked Rijana Road in protest against an anti-encroachment operation headed by the provincial secretary for sports.

Punjab Sports Secretary Rao Iftikhar initiated an anti-encroachment campaign in Samundari on the orders of the chief secretary, who has been in Faisalabad for the last five days, and got razed scores of illegal establishments.

He ordered demolition of a house constructed on the state land illegally in Chak 468-GB. As the anti-encroachment staff bulldozed nearly 50 houses built in the locality illegally, people resorted to violent protests.

They blocked Rijana Road by burning tyres and raised slogans against the government. They said they had been residing there for the last one decade, and added that the anti-encroachment staff was liable to contempt of court because most house owners had got stay orders. They said they were not even served notices before the operation.

The administration called in police when the protesters refused to clear the road. The police baton-charged and tear gassed them. The charged protesters retaliated with stones. In the clash, two men and three women were injured.

The protesters dispersed after the administration assured them of a meeting with them over the issue.

Mr Iftikhar said the state land worth millions of rupees had been vacated and handed to government departments. Separately, speaking at a meeting of the administrative secretaries, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said divisional commissioners should ensure hassle-free services to the masses and not indulge in formalities like PC-I even for much-needed and small projects.