Delhi Police have initiated a formal investigation and detained several individuals following violent clashes that erupted during an anti-encroachment drive in the capital's Mehrauli area. Authorities are now probing whether the confrontation, which saw injuries to police personnel and damage to public property, was a premeditated act.
Incident Unfolds During Demolition Drive
The situation turned tense on Thursday, May 9, 2024, when a team from the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), accompanied by police, arrived in Mehrauli's Lado Sarai to conduct a planned demolition of illegal structures. According to officials, the drive targeted encroachments on government land. However, the operation was met with significant resistance from a group of local residents and others.
What began as protests quickly escalated into violence. A police official reported that the crowd pelted stones at the demolition team and law enforcement officers. The assailants also allegedly used sticks and other objects to attack the police force present at the site. This resulted in injuries to several police personnel who were performing their duty to secure the area for the official drive.
Police Response and Formal Case Registered
In response to the violence, Delhi Police have taken swift action. A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered to investigate the entire sequence of events. The case encompasses serious charges, including attempts to murder, obstructing public servants from performing their duty, and causing damage to public property.
Law enforcement agencies have also made multiple detentions as part of their initial investigative steps. The police are meticulously examining the evidence and statements to piece together the events of that day. A senior police officer indicated that the focus of the inquiry is to determine if the violence was spontaneous or a planned conspiracy to disrupt the lawful demolition work being carried out by the DDA.
Probing the Angle of Pre-Planning
The central question guiding the police investigation is whether the violent outbreak was orchestrated. Officials are looking into the possibility that certain elements may have intentionally mobilized people to create chaos and prevent the government agency from executing its mandate. The nature of the injuries, the weapons used, and the pattern of the attack are all under scrutiny to establish intent and pre-meditation.
The DDA has maintained that the drive was a routine action against unauthorized constructions on its land, following due process. The violence, however, has brought the often-contentious issue of demolition drives in densely populated urban areas back into sharp focus, highlighting the challenges authorities face in balancing law enforcement with public sentiment.
The investigation remains active, with police reviewing video footage from the scene and gathering further testimonies. The outcome of this probe will be crucial in understanding the dynamics of the clash and could lead to more arrests in the coming days.
