KARACHI: A day after scores of residents resisted an anti-encroachment drive in Mehran Town and resorted to violence, police on Wednesday booked five protesters in a terrorism case.

The residents had on Tuesday attacked a Karachi Development Authority team, hurt four officials, set a real estate office, four motorbikes and a four-wheeler on fire in the presence of police and Rangers.

An uneasy calm prevailed in Mehran Town on Wednesday as the city administration had to postpone its anti-encroachment drive because of the violence.

“The Korangi Industrial Area police lodged an FIR against five arrested suspects on the complaint of a KDA official under Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1997,” said Korangi SSP Ali Raza.

The SSP said since Tuesday night, policemen were deployed in the troubled area, where police patrolling was also conducted on Wednesday.

Dozens of members of the KDA’s anti-encroachment cell found themselves trapped and helpless when protesting residents pelted them with stones in a bid to resist their encroachment removal action. Officials said that some people among the protesters also resorted to firing.

Published in Dawn, November 29th, 2018