Highway to nowhere

While the residents of Rahul and Buddha Vihar claimed that they had been living there for the past two decades and had paid for the registration of their property,both colonies were declared unauthorised by the Ghaziabad Development Authority and a demolition drive was to be carried out today.

Large number of police was present at the spot when the officials reached the area. As the crowd began to pelted stones at the officials,the police tried to disperse the crowd by firing teargas shells. These,however,failed to deter the crowd and the police had to resort to firing in the air,sources said.

The protesters set buses and vehicles on fire and damaged public property,sources added.

“We have talked to the people and have assured them that no action (of eviction) will be taken soon,” R Ramesh Kumar,district magistrate of Ghaziabad,said.

“Our personnel,too,were injured in the violence,” the police said. Kamla Rani,a resident of Buddha Vihar,said,“We have been living here for the past 20 years and have deposited fee for registry and stamp duty. How could the administration evict us from our homes?”