Violence Erupts in Ballia During Pond Encroachment Removal Operation
A joint team comprising district administration officials, land revenue department staff, and police personnel faced a violent attack on Tuesday afternoon in Hathauj village, located under the Khejuri police station jurisdiction in Ballia district. The incident occurred when authorities initiated action to remove illegal encroachments from the village panchayat's pond, sparking significant unrest among local residents.
High Court Order Triggers Administrative Action
According to Ballia ASP (North) Dinesh Kumar Shukla, who assessed the situation on Tuesday night, the operation was conducted in compliance with a High Court directive. A team led by SDM Sikandarpur arrived at Hathauj village to execute the court's order to clear the pond area of unauthorized constructions. The pond, spread over approximately four bighas, had been partially occupied by houses belonging to Ramgovind and Rambachan.
The legal journey began in February 2024 when local resident Siddharth Ranjan filed a public interest litigation in the High Court against these encroachments. In December 2024, the court issued an order mandating the removal of the illegal structures. When authorities failed to act promptly, the petitioner filed a contempt petition, with the next hearing scheduled for February 6. Just three days before this hearing, the administrative machinery finally swung into action.
Violent Confrontation and Police Response
As demolition work commenced using a JCB machine, scores of villagers, allegedly misled by influential local persons, began pelting stones at the joint team of police and revenue personnel. The situation escalated rapidly when the villagers started hurling bricks and stones, resulting in injuries to several lekhpals, kanungos, and police officers.
Police responded by using force and lobbing tear gas shells to disperse the agitated mob. Despite these measures, the protest continued, forcing the administrative team to retreat temporarily. After pacifying the situation and dispersing the crowd, officials successfully completed the demolition of both encroaching houses.
Massive Official Presence and Prior Notices
The operation involved a substantial contingent of officials, including in-charge tehsildar Devendra Kumar Pandey, naib tehsildar C P Yadav, ten lekhpals, four kanungos, and police personnel from Khejuri, Pakri, Maniyar, and Sikandarpur police stations. The families of Ramgovind and Rambachan had already received prior notices and had vacated their homes before the demolition began.
However, when the official team arrived on site, villagers gathered near the pond and created significant opposition to the demolition efforts. While officials attempted to convince the crowd through dialogue, the situation turned violent unexpectedly.
Legal Consequences and Investigation
Following the incident, authorities lodged an FIR against the assailants based on a complaint filed by a revenue lekhpal. The case has been registered under relevant sections of the law, and a hunt has been launched to apprehend those responsible for the attack on government officials performing their duties.
This incident highlights the challenges faced by administrative bodies when implementing court orders in sensitive rural areas, where local sentiments and influential figures can sometimes obstruct lawful proceedings. The timely action, just days before the contempt hearing, demonstrates the pressure on authorities to comply with judicial directives while managing ground realities.
