Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Apr 13: Police today lobbed teargas shells and charge batons on protesters who blocked the National Highway at Parimpora, South of Srinagar after the district administration Srinagar launched a massive demolition drive along the banks of River Jhelum to restore its width to its original position.
In response to the Jammu and Kashmir High Court directions, the drive was simultaneously launched by a joint team of officers of Revenue, Police, Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), Irrigation and Flood Control Departments from Sempora in South and Panzinara in North of Srinagar.
Scores of illegal structures, boundary walls and thousands of trees were removed from the banks of river Jhelum during the drive.
The authorities said that the drive will continue till all the encroachments are removed along the banks of river Jhelum.
The District Administration also asked all those persons whose structures fall within the demarcation made by the Revenue, Irrigation and Flood Control Departments to voluntarily remove the encroachments.
In order to maintain law and order during the demolition drive, District Magistrate Srinagar has ordered imposition of Section 144 Cr. PC at the spots where demolition squads are performing their duties along the Banks of River Jhelum from Sempora to Panzinara, till further orders.
People whose structures were demolished blocked the Highway at Parimpora for several hours. Police fired teargas shells and charged batons on the protesters leading to ding dong battles.
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