Jaipur: In a sharp reaction to last week’s stone-pelting on police personnel outside a mosque in Chomu town around 35km from Jaipur, local authorities on Friday demolished encroachments linked to protesters allegedly involved in the violence.Around 8am, a team comprising police officers and Chomu municipal officials reached the area with bulldozers and got portions of 20 buildings razed, while sealing three others. Heavy security arrangements were in place during the action along Imam Chowk and Pathan Mohalla areas. Two companies of Rajasthan Armed Constabulary (RAC), along with district police forces, were deployed under the supervision of DCP Hanuman Prasad Meena to prevent any breach of peace.While the district administration labelled the action as a routine anti-encroachment drive, BJP members suggested the buildings targeted were directly linked to the individuals accused in the violence on the night of Dec 25-26.Deputy CM Prem Chand Bairwa also linked the action to stone-pelting. “The bulldozer action taken by the Bhajan Lal (Sharma) govt of the state against anti-social elements who spread unrest and disturbed peace in Chomu makes it clear that no one is above the law,” Bairwa wrote on his X handle soon after the drive.A mob had hurled stones at policemen attempting to remove illegal iron railings outside the local mosque, which left at least four cops injured. On Dec 29, municipal authorities issued notices to the owners of 23 structures implicated in the unrest. Following the expiry of the response period on Dec 31, demolition proceedings commenced.Sandeep Singh Kaviya, the municipal officer overseeing the operation, said the buildings targeted were commercial establishments, many of which sold non-vegetarian items, and had encroached upon public roadways or were constructed without proper permissions.Following the violence, more than 19 people were arrested and over 100 suspects detained for investigations. The unrest prompted a temporary suspension of internet services in Chomu for two days, along with the deployment of personnel from special task force and riot control unit.Special police commissioner (operations) Rahul Prakash told reporters that further investigations were going on, with potential additional suspects being identified. Authorities are trying to find out if people from outside the state were involved.DCP Meena said the tensions arose due to a dispute over encroachment outside a religious site. The video footage of the incident is being scrutinised and efforts are on to identify all individuals involved in stone-pelting, he said.
