Anti-encroachment drive sparks protest, stone-pelting leaves dozen injured, vehicles damaged in Jammu's Bhatindi

Jammu, Jan 22: Protesting against anti-encroachment drive launched during wee hours on Friday, hundreds of people pelted stones at the contingents of police and Jammu Municipal Corporation men leaving nearly dozen injured and vehicles were damaged in Bhatindi area here on city outskirts.
Police said that the residents of Sunjwan and Bhatindi areas on Friday morning held a protest demonstration against the JMC authorities after an anti-encroachment drive was started.
The drive was objected by locals who resorted to stone pelting, damaging a police bus and two JCB machines.
They said the protesters raised slogans against the JMC authorities and other government departments.
Meanwhile, locals said that amid darkness, authorities pressed into service it's men and machinery to demolish structures in the area without serving any notice.
"The area is being targetted time and again despite the fact that a number of other localities in Jammu are also having structures on state land," locals alleged.
However, the protestors burnt tyres and blocked the road to express anger against the administration.