A few persons indulged in heated argument with Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) team that had gone to remove encroachment around the new jail road on Thursday. They surrounded the team and also threatened encroachment in-charge Nasir Khan for taking action. As the matter escalated, the cops of Nishatpura police station reached the spot and arrested two persons. Following the instructions of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), action is being taken to remove encroachment from over 650 identified inside the Green Belt area of Bhopal.

 

Action was earlier taken at many locations in Bhopal including Asharam Bapu Square, IT Park Bairagarh, 11 Mill Bypass, Neelbad, Barkheda Nathu Road, Khajuri Bypass, Saket Nagar Sector, Banskhedi, Cancer Hospital and others.

However, on Thursday afternoon when the team reached new jail road some people gathered around started protesting against the action around 12:30 pm. Seeing the siege taking place, the officers called the police. Anti-Encroachment Officer Khan said that on Wednesday the encroachment of a youth named Pappu Maulana was removed from New Jail Road area. The action was underway at Motilal Nagar near Vivekanands Gate on Thursday also when Pappu and his friend Firdosh Maulana along with 25 to 30 other people surrounded them.

 

They also threatened to kill Khan. Khan said that the accused men were provoking the mob to kill me. First they threatened me saying “I am working against a particular community but when I said I am working as per the law, they started abusing me”, he said.As the action continued the mob surrounded our team. To avoid any untoward situation, we informed our seniors. Also, we informed the Nishatpura police and a team reached the scene, he said. The police have booked accused Pappu and Firdosh and others involved in the incident. The Nisharpura police have booked the accused under relevant sections of the law.