Varanasi: The joint team of the district administration, land revenue department staff and police was attacked late Tuesday afternoon in Hathauj village under Khejuri police station of Ballia district when they started removing encroachment from the village panchayat’s pond. Apart from using force, police had to lob tear gas shells to disperse the mob of villagers who indulged in stone pelting.After taking stock of the village on Tuesday night, Ballia ASP (North) Dinesh Kumar Shukla said a joint team of the district administration and police led by SDM Sikandarpur went to Hathauj village in compliance with a High Court order to remove illegal encroachment from the village panchayat’s pond. As demolition work began, scores of villagers, misled by some local influential persons, started pelting stones at the joint team of police and revenue personnel. After police controlled the situation, the encroachment was removed. Based on complaint by revenue lekhpal, FIR was lodged against the assailants under relevant sections and hunt was launched to nab them. The officials said houses of Ramgovind and Rambachan were built on one side of the pond, spread over about four bighas. Against the encroachment, local resident, Siddharth Ranjan, filed a public interest litigation in high court in Feb 2024. In Dec 2024, HC ordered to remove the encroachment. When action remained pending despite the order, the petitioner filed a contempt petition, whose next hearing is scheduled for Feb 6. Three days ahed of the contempt hearing, the administrative machinery swung into action. Since families of Ramgovind and Rambachan had already received notice, they vacated the homes. On Tuesday afternoon, a big band of officials, including in charge tehsildar Devendra Kumar Pandey, naib tehsildar C P Yadav, 10 Lekhpals, four kanungos and police from Khejuri, Pakri, Maniyar and Sikandarpur police stations, arrived at the site.On seeing the team, scores of villagers gathered near the pond and started making a hue and cry against the demolition bid. While officials were trying to convince people, some villagers suddenly started pelting stones at the JCB. Soon, villagers started hurling bricks and stones at police and revenue personnel and some lekhpals, kanungos and police personnel were injured. Police lobbed tear gas shells, but the protest continued and the administrative team retreated for some time.After pacifying the situation and dispersing the crowd, officials ensured demolition of both houses.
