Zubair Qureshi
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) with the support of the Islamabad Police and district administration conducted operation against ‘land mafia’ in Sector E-11 and E-12 of Islamabad and adjacent areas.
During the operation, the law-enforcers faced severe resistance from the local villagers who claimed ownership of the land and refused to vacate the area.“We have been living here for decades and unless we are given allotment at some other place we shall not move an inch,” said the residents of Sinyari village that falls within these sectors. Several of them were arrested or injured by the incessant tear gas and baton-charge.
They claimed a number of the local villagers were also shot dead during the police operation. Later Leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami Mian Muhammad Aslam reached the place and condemned the brutal police action. A day earlier, it was agreed between the CDA and the representatives of the local population that they would not be displaced unless there was an alternate arrangement but today (Monday) early in the morning the police resorted to firing tear gas and baton-charge, which is unfortunate, said Mian Aslam. He said in the operation, women, children and elderly people were injured and arrested.
On the other hand, the Islamabad police accused the locals of resorting to violence. A number of our policemen got injured after they pelted stones and opened fires, said an Islamabad police spokesman. According to him, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and district administration had initiated a series of crackdowns against the land grabbers and their associates operating in Islamabad.
As part of this effort, the CDA and district administration conducted a targeted operation against the land grabbers and its operatives in Sinyari village. The Islamabad Capital Police assisted CDA and district administration for the operation against the land grabbers. During the operation, the law enforcement officers faced fierce resistance from the land grabbing mafias including gunfire and stone pelting.
As a result of firing, nine officers and officials of the Islamabad Capital Police sustained injuries and gthe same number of police vehicles were damaged.
SSP Operations reached the spot along with a heavy police contingent.
In the immediate aftermath of the incident, the injured officers were promptly shifted to hospitals for urgent medical attention. Simultaneously, legal actions are being pursued against those responsible for the violence, the spokesperson said.
