Protest erupts during anti-encroachment drive in Shaheen Bagh; see pics

Shaheen Bagh, which came to the limelight during the anti-citizenship law protests a couple of years ago, was again in the news as the area saw a fresh demolition drive. As the bulldozers rolled into the area, locals gathered in huge numbers to protest and blocked the bulldozers from demolition. Protesters raised slogans against the BJP-ruled South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) as well as the central government and demanded that the action be stopped.

As the bulldozers rolled into Shaheen Bagh for the demolition, locals gathered in large numbers and staged a protest and stopped the officials from carrying out the exercise. Credit: PTI Photo

Leaders from the Aam Aadmi Party and Congress also reached the spot and staged dharna against the action. Credit: PTI Photo

Aam Aadmi Party MLA Amanatullah Khan joined the protesters and was seen speaking to the officials. The MLA said that he had himself inspected the whole area and spoken to every official, including the traffic police. Credit: PTI Photo

An illegal encroachment, an iron structure in front of a building, was manually removed by the people during the proposed demolition drive in Delhi's Shaheen Bagh. Credit: PTI Photo

The protests erupted in no time and saw a huge number of police personnel, including senior officers, reaching Shaheen Bagh to take the situation into control. Credit: PTI Photo

Paramilitary forces were also deployed to manage the situation. Credit: PTI Photo

Protesters raised slogans against the BJP-ruled South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) as well as the central government and demanded that the action should be stopped. Credit: PTI Photo

Delhi Police personnel seen stopping a local resident from staging the protest at Shaheen Bagh in Delhi. Credit: PTI Photo

Some women protesters also stood in front of bulldozers to prevent the exercise. Credit: PTI Photo

82-year-old Bilkis Bano, popularly known as Shaheen Bagh’s 'Dadi', was also seen at the protest site. Credit: PTI Photo

The protest also caused heavy traffic snarls in Shaheen Bagh, Kalindi Kunj, Jaitpur, Sarita Vihar and Mathura Road among other areas. Credit: PTI Photo

Last month, an anti-encroachment drive conducted by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation in Jahangirpuri area, which witnessed violence between two communities on April 16, drew widespread criticism. The Supreme Court had to intervene to stop the action there. Credit: PTI Photo