Jammu, June 12: Over two dozen persons, including five constables, In-charge police post Sidhra and two CRPF troopers were injured and half a dozen vehicles, including a JCB and police vehicle, were damaged  when violent clashes broke out during anti-encroachment drive by Jammu Development Authority (JDA) in Sidhra area on Saturday morning.
 The incident took place when the JDA officials accompanied by police and CRPF had gone to Majeen and Ragura areas to remove some temporary huts constructed “illegally” by nomad Gujjars, official sources said.
 As soon as JDA team accompanied by police and paramilitary personnel reached the spot, about 300 members of the Gujjar community attacked them with sticks and pelted stones on them. 
 In the melee, over two dozen people suffered injuries, while some vehicles including a JCB and a Police Gypsy were damaged. Police fired several bullets in air to disperse the mob.
 The injured included a JDA official, two troopers, around five policemen and Incharge Police Post Sidhra.
 The injured were rushed to the hospital where the condition of a JDA official identified as Raghunath Singh and a civilian identified as Hafiz was stated to be critical, sources said.
 Officials of JDA claimed that the land has been transferred to the Authority by the government and compensation has been paid to its owners. However, on the other hand Gujjars claim that the land is under their possession since decades .

Lastupdate on : Sat, 12 Jun 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 12 Jun 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 13 Jun 2010 00:00:00 IST