Anti-encroachment drive called off for lack of force; 'tell us in advance': Cops

New Delhi: An anti-encroachment drive of the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) scheduled at Jasola and Sarita Vihar was cancelled after the Delhi Police said it does not have the forces required to depute for the drive in these areas,

officials said.

According to SDMC officials, the drive was planned for Thursday in the Jasola-Sarita Vihar area to remove permanent and temporary encroachments from roads and government land. The drive was scheduled a day after SDMC Mayor Mukesh Suryan visited these areas.

"The drive at Jasola and Sarita Vihar has been cancelled due to the unavailability of adequate police force. The area SHO informed us that adequate police personnel cannot be provided for the drive due to the pre-engagement of the police staff in other law-and-order duties. The drive will be rescheduled accordingly," Suryan said.

In a letter to the SDMC, Delhi Police said due to the pre-engagement or preoccupation of the staff and personnel of the Sarita Vihar police station in other law-and-order or investigative duties, it is not possible to provide sufficient personnel to assist the SDMC staff in carrying out the anti-encroachment drive in ward number 101-S (Sarita

Vihar).

"It is requested that prior intimation of at least 10 days may be given to fix the date for the encroachment removal drive in the area of Sarita Vihar police station so that sufficient staff may be given to assist the SDMC staff," it said.

Encroachment drives are being planned in the SDMC areas after Delhi BJP chief Adesh Gupta wrote to the mayor on April 20, urging him to remove encroachment by "Rohingyas, Bangladeshis and anti-social

elements".

The North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) came under fire from opposition parties and civil rights groups last week, after it bulldozed structures during an anti-encroachment drive at Jahangirpuri, an area that witnessed communal clashes recently.

The drive was stopped after the Supreme Court's intervention.

Left parties protest

Nearly 100 people belonging to the Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) gathered at Jantar Mantar, demanding the Centre put a stop to civic bodies' anti-encroachment drives in the Capital, alleging that the ruling BJP and the RSS are pursuing "destructive bulldozer politics" and creating an environment of hate under the pretext of removing illegal

constructions.

CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, party leader Brinda Karat and CPI-ML politburo member Kavita Krishnan were present in the demonstration.