Lucknow: Residents Pelt Stone At Police Over Demolition Drive In Akbar Nagar

A demolition drive by the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) in Akbar Nagar led to violent clashes on Sunday evening. Residents, agitated by false rumours of fatalities and residential demolitions, pelted stones at LDA employees and police, causing damage to two government vehicles. 

Police said the unrest was fueled by misinformation that people had died under debris during the demolition of commercial buildings. Police used mild force to control the situation and additional teams were deployed to calm the protesters. No injuries were reported, a police official said.

The demolition was part of a beautification project for Akbar Nagar, situated along the Kukrail nullah. On March 6, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court halted the drive, mandating accommodations for those displaced by March 31. 

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Indramani Tripathi, Vice-Chairperson of LDA, confirmed that only three commercial buildings were targeted, with no plans to raze residential structures. The official said that the petitions of their owners against demolition were dismissed by the high court following which the demolition drive was carried out in the area.

"When the third commercial building was being demolished, false rumours circulated, prompting the residents to protest. The situation was resolved only after convincing them that there was no plan to demolish any residential buildings," said Tripathi as quoted by news agency IANS.