A tense standoff unfolded in Ludhiana's Shivpuri area on Saturday when teams from the Municipal Corporation (MC), backed by police, faced resistance from a group of Nihang Singhs. The confrontation was over the planned demolition of a structure that officials claim is an illegal encroachment obstructing a road construction project alongside the Buddha Dariya drain.
Demolition Drive Sparks Confrontation
On Saturday, a team of MC officials, accompanied by a police force, arrived at the site to clear encroachments that were impeding the road work next to the drain. During the operation, one particular house was identified as a major obstruction. At this point, a Nihang Singh stepped forward, claiming ownership of the property. He asserted that he had been residing in the structure since 1992 and contested the MC's label of it being an encroachment.
Dispute Over Legal Documentation
The situation escalated when the MC officials asked the Nihang Singh to produce legal documents proving his ownership of the house. According to the officials, he was unable to provide any such paperwork. The civic body representatives stated they were acting on direct orders from the MC Commissioner for the demolition. They further claimed that a warning had been issued to the occupants several days prior, instructing them to demolish the structure themselves. As the occupants did not comply, the MC team arrived with force to carry out the action.
Monday Deadline Averts Immediate Action
With both groups at a loggerheads and the situation growing increasingly tense, the MC officials decided to de-escalate for the moment. They offered a final concession: the encroachers were given time until Monday to voluntarily remove the encroaching structures. The officials made it clear that if the self-demolition does not occur by the deadline, the MC will return with its team and machinery to carry out the demolition themselves. This temporary reprieve has postponed a potential clash, but the underlying dispute over the property's legality remains unresolved.
