Patiala jhuggis razed

A Congress leader, alleged that the police had used force and had even given lathi blows to certain residents while carrying out the clearing operation. He also alleged that no proper notice was given to the affected people.

Senior Congress leader Birdevinder Singh, a former chief whip of the Congress party in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, accused the district administration of acting in a selective manner in the matter of clearing of encroachments. First it was Congress supporters on the Bhupindera road who had been dislocated at the behest of the ruling party leaders and now it was turn of those on the Central Jail. Birdevinder Singh said that instead of targeting the poor slum dwellers, the administration should first focus its attention on the moneyed and the influential who have encroached on government land. Citing an example, he said the Rajbaha road has been illegally occupied by residents of the area and it should be got cleared on priority.