Out to clear encroachment, LMC team attacked by occupants in Indiranagar

Lucknow: The members of the municipal team, out to clear the encroachment near Shubh Marriage Lawn in Indiranagar, were attacked by alleged illegal occupants on Sunday.Officials claimed the attackers were of Bangladeshi origin.An FIR was lodged at Indiranagar police station regarding the incident.The LMC team, led by supervisor Meenakshi and food inspector Vijeta Dwivedi, reached Zone 7 in Indiranagar at 7am to remove illegal encroachments. However, resistance came from around 200 people who allegedly attacked the team, forcing them to retreat for safety.The situation escalated when a crowd armed with sticks reportedly attacked the team. In the chaos, municipal workers abandoned their belongings to escape.Supervisor Meenakshi was allegedly assaulted, while team members Shiv Balak and Deep Bhushan were robbed of their mobile phones. Inspector Vijeta Dwivedi's vehicle was vandalised, and her driver, Adarsh Vikram Singh, was dragged and attacked. Videos showing the confrontation have gone viral on social media.Mayor Sushma Kharkwal and municipal commissioner Inderjit Singh visited the site after the incident and expressed concern over the safety of municipal workers. The mayor demanded strict action against the attackers. "If municipal workers and representatives are not safe, how can I perform my duties as mayor?" she questioned. The mayor also ordered the removal of illegal electricity connections in the area.Later, the municipal corporation demolished around 50 illegal huts near the Indiranagar police station. Heavy police presence ensured the situation remained under control, while residents were seen removing their belongings before the demolition.Municipal zonal officer Akash Singh reported that two workers were injured during the attack, and mobile phones were stolen.The Uttar Pradesh Local Bodies Employees' Union condemned the attack and called for strict action against those involved.Congress corporator Mukesh Singh Chauhan also condemned the violence while blaming the administration for failing to address Bangladeshi infiltration issue in the city.Amit Kumar Verma, joint commissioner of police (law and order), confirmed that an FIR was filed and an investigation is underway. "During the anti-encroachment drive, people attacked the workers, injuring some of them. It was found that some individuals encroached on a private plot and attacked the team," he said.