GHAZIABAD: An anti-encroachment drive team of Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) was attacked by a group of locals on Wednesday when they went to demolish illegal structures on a green belt on Sadarpur Road in Govindpuram area. A junior engineer sustained injuries and had to be rushed to a hospital where he was discharged in the evening.“On Wednesday afternoon, GDA’s junior engineer Adarsh Bhardwaj was leading an anti-encroachment team in Balaji Enclave on Sadarpur Road in Govindpuram area to raze illegal structures that were built on a green belt but they were attacked by a group of people,” said Nishant Kumar, the development agency’s in-charge of zone 3.“Even before the team could carry out the drive they were surrounded by locals and a heated argument ensued. Our junior engineer was making a video when he was manhandled by the group and in the ensuing scuffle, he fell down after which locals rained blows on him in which he suffered injuries on his face and elbow. He had to be rushed to a hospital from where he was discharged in the evening,” added Kumar.GDA has filed a complaint against unknown people at Kavi Nagar police station. “The attack has been allegedly carried out by locals who were instigated by some vested interest and we have filed a police complaint against unknown people,” said Santosh Rai, secretary, GDA. “The matter has been brought to the notice of the GDA vice-chairperson who in turn has directed us to resume the drive as soon as possible under police cover,” added Rai.When asked whether GDA’s team was ill-prepared for the demolition drive , Rai said local police had accompanied the team. “Local police had rescued the team but I we think that we should have summoned more force before carrying out the drive. We didn’t expect that the crowd would go unruly,” said Rai.The area where GDA had planned to carry out the demolition drive falls under a green belt. There are 16 illegal structures that have come up in the area and GDA is already under the pressure of National Green Tribunal (NGT) to clear the green belt areas of encroachment.

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